Department for Transport

Portsmouth International Port: Freight

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on the processing time of freight at Portsmouth International port.

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Portsmouth International port on the effect of peak ferry times on the processing capability of the port in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Chris Grayling: Government departments have been working to design customs and other control arrangements at the UK border in a way which ensures goods can continue to flow into the country, and will not be delayed by additional controls and checks. Transitional simplified procedures, which were announced on 5 February, will contribute to ensuring smooth inbound flow at ro-ro ports including Portsmouth. Officials have also engaged specifically with Portsmouth International Port to gain an understanding of the operations, including peak flows; and of the impacts of various EU exit scenarios on processing of freight traffic, with a view to supporting detailed local operational and resilience planning. However, the Department is not expecting the strategic road network to be disrupted.

Department for Transport: Trade Associations

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which his Department has responsibility are currently undertaken by trade associations; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: To answer this question would require a review of every regulatory function in the Department, which would be disproportionately costly.

Taxis: Disability

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the level of discrimination experienced by disabled people when travelling by taxi.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) have a statutory duty to advise Ministers on the transport needs of disabled passengers, and we have discussed with them the challenges that disabled people face when using taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs). Ministers are considering the recommendations made in the report of the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing, including those intended to improve accessibility. A Government response will be issued in due course. We also intend to commission research to understand more clearly the experience of passengers who have been refused service by taxi and PHV drivers on account of using a wheelchair or assistance dog, and the levers available to Government to help eliminate such unacceptable behaviour.

Gospel Oak-Barking Railway Line

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to ensure that services on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line continue at their published frequency after the trains running on the line are due to be withdrawn in March.

Andrew Jones: This is not a matter for the Department for Transport (DfT). The Gospel Oak to Barking rail line is run by Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London is therefore accountable for this service.

Bus Services: Standards

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve the provision of bus services.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Bus Services Act 2017 provides the tools local authorities need to improve local bus services. We are working with interested local authorities to determine which of the powers provided are best able to support bus networks in their areas. In particular, new Enhanced Partnership and Advanced Quality Partnership powers provide the framework for authorities to work side by side with operators to set a shared vision for bus services in their area. Bus Open Data powers will require bus operators in England to open up route and timetable, fares and tickets and real time information for passengers by 2020. These improvements aim to remove uncertainty in bus journeys, improve journey planning and help passengers secure best value tickets. Accessible Information powers will require all operators of local bus services to provide audio and visual route and next stop announcements on board buses across Great Britain, helping to remove barriers to bus travel particularly for those with disabilities or accessibility needs.

Roads: Hedgehogs

Graham P Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to introduce hedgehog crossing signs.

Jesse Norman: The Department for Transport has been exploring the options for a traffic sign to make drivers aware of the presence of hedgehogs and other small animals in the road ahead, in locations where there have been a high number of animal casualties. The Department expects to make an announcement on this in due course.

British Transport Police and British Transport Police Authority

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answers of 29 January to Questions 212324 and 212323 on British Transport Police, what the relationship between his Department and the (a) British Transport Police Authority and (b) operations of the British Transport Police is.

Andrew Jones: (a) The British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) is an independent Arm’s Length Body of this Department responsible for ensuring an efficient and effective police force for rail operators, rail staff and passengers. BTPA appoints the Chief Constable and senior officers, and is the employer of the BTP’s officers and staff. The Chair of the BTPA and its members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport. (b) British Transport Police (BTP) is operationally independent with responsibility for the deployment of its resources lying with the Chief Constable.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Employment: Ethnic Groups

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy,  if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the report of 18 January 2018 by the Centre for Social Investigation entitled Are employers in Britain discriminating against ethnic minorities.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Centre for Social Investigation’s findings on potential discrimination at the written application stage of recruitment are concerning. The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate against employees and people seeking work because of their race. The Government’s Ethnicity Facts and Figures website and Business in the Community’s 2018 Race at Work Survey highlight that people from ethnic minorities still encounter disparities in recruitment and progression. In October 2018 the Prime Minister announced a package of measures to make the workplace fairer for people from ethnic minorities, including a Race at Work Charter and a consultation on mandatory ethnicity pay reporting. The consultation closed on 11 January 2019.

Wind Power

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his Department's policy is on the development of large-scale onshore wind projects in England; and whether that policy applies to (a) Wales and (b) Scotland.

Claire Perry: The Government does not believe that new large-scale onshore wind power is right for England, and planning policy ensures new projects can only go ahead with the full backing of local communities. Planning policy for onshore wind in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the Devolved Administrations. The Government has recently made changes to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme to allow Remote island Wind projects to compete for support in future Pot 2 CfD allocation rounds, in keeping with our manifesto commitment.

Wind Power

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Energy and Clean Growth of 08 January 2019, Official Report, column 153 and with reference to the Minister's oral contribution to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee on 28 November 2017, whether his Department will support onshore wind in those areas of the UK that want to deploy it.

Claire Perry: The Government does not believe that new large-scale onshore wind power is right for England, and planning policy ensures new projects can only go ahead with the full backing of local communities. Planning policy for onshore wind in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for the Devolved Administrations. The Government has recently made changes to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme to allow Remote Island Wind projects to compete for support in future CfD rounds, in keeping with our manifesto commitment.

UK Seabed Resources: Pacific Ocean

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if will he place in the Library copies of the (a) domestic licence granted by the Government and (b) exploration contract granted by the International Seabed Authority to UK Seabed Resources Ltd for (i) the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone I and (ii) the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone II.

Claire Perry: The International Seabed Authority is considering how it can make the exploration contracts for the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone publicly available, but in doing so it will have to protect the commercially and competitively sensitive information. In the meantime the UK Government will review whether it would be possible to publish the domestic licences.

UK Seabed Resources: Pacific Ocean

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if will he place in the Library a copy of the environmental impact statements for the UK-sponsored exploration contracts relating to seabed mining for the (a) Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (I) and (b) Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (II).

Claire Perry: No activities have taken place or are planned in the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone under UK-sponsored exploration contracts for seabed mining which have required the production of an environmental impact assessment.The exploitation of minerals in the deep sea cannot take place until International Seabed Authority regulations and environmental impact assessment process have been agreed.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Trade Associations

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which his Department has responsibility are currently undertaken by trade associations; and if he will make a statement.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has identified one arrangement in which a trade association has agreed to deliver regulatory functions created by legislation. British Marine, the trade association of the marine industry, manages the process of issuing Manufacturer Identity Codes to manufacturers of recreational craft. This is in line with requirements under the EU Directive on Recreational Craft and Personal Watercraft for each manufacturer to be assigned a unique code.

Domestic Appliances: Counterfeit Manufacturing

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his Department will make an estimate of the (a) number of fulfilment houses that are operating in the United Kingdom that are selling counterfeit and substandard electrical goods and (b) cost to the UK economy of such fulfilment houses.

Kelly Tolhurst: Electrical goods must meet essential safety requirements before they can be placed on the UK market, whoever has done so. The Office for Product Safety and Standards is improving its intelligence gathering and sharing on fulfilment houses and is working closely with partners to support operational activity targeting and addressing any non-compliances identified.

Early Day Motions

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish a response to Early Day Motion 66 entitled Applying results of experiments on animals to human patients.

Chris Skidmore: Holding answer received on 04 February 2019



The Government believes that animals should only be used when there is no practicable alternative and it actively supports and funds the development and dissemination of techniques that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs), in particular through funding for the National Centre for the 3Rs, and also through ongoing UK-led efforts to encourage greater global uptake of the 3Rs. Advances in biomedical science and technologies – including stem cell research, in vitro systems that mimic the function of human organs, imaging and new computer modelling techniques – are all providing new opportunities to reduce reliance on the use of animals in research.

Parental Leave and Parental Pay: Baby Care Units

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending statutory (a) leave and (b) pay for parents whose baby is admitted to neonatal care by one week for every week that their baby stays in hospital.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Department is conducting a short, focussed internal review of the provisions for parents of premature babies and sick babies and those that experience multiple births. The purpose of this work is to obtain a high-level understanding of the barriers to participating in the labour market that these parents can face. It would not be appropriate to announce future policy without first establishing an appropriate evidence base. BEIS officials are working with organisations who represent the interests of these parents (The Smallest Things, Bliss, and TAMBA) to better understand the issues that parents can face and have also held focus groups with a small number of parents themselves. This will inform our policy consideration.

Post Offices: Closures

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of Post Office closures on high street footfall in (a) Coventry and (b) other towns and cities across the country.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010. The management of the Post Office network is an operational matter for the Post Office Limited who are responsible for maintaining the network of branches and achieving the accessibility criteria set by Government. The Post Office does not have branch closure programme, rather they are seeking to open new branches. Branches can sometimes change location as a result of the Post Office Network Transformation Programme or franchising.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has held with representatives of the automotive manufacturing sector on trends in the annual levels of car production; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Harrington: Leaving the EU with a deal that supports the future of British industry remains the government’s top priority. We are determined to ensure that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive. Through our Industrial Strategy and landmark Automotive Sector Deal, we are working with industry to put the UK at the forefront of new automotive technologies to ensure the UK remains the destination of choice for future investment decisions. BEIS Ministers and officials regularly meet with the automotive industry, including through bilaterals with manufacturers, via interactions with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), and through BEIS’s participation in the Automotive Council. The UK automotive industry is one of our great success stories. Global demand for UK designed, engineered and manufactured vehicles is strong and the industry has one of the highest productivity levels in Europe. A number of companies have recently committed to investing billions of pounds in the sector. This includes recent announcements of a £50m Technology Centre in partnership between McLaren and University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), as well as Aston Martin’s announcement that its St Athan facility in Wales will become the home of its electric vehicle range.

Conditions of Employment: Parents

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing (a) flexible working patterns and (b) additional leave for the parents of premature babies.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Department is conducting a short, focussed internal review of the provisions for parents of premature babies and sick babies and those that experience multiple births. The purpose of this work is to obtain a high-level understanding of the barriers to participating in the labour market that these parents can face. It would not be appropriate to announce future policy without first establishing an appropriate evidence base. BEIS officials are working with organisations who represent the interests of these parents (The Smallest Things, Bliss, and TAMBA) to better understand the issues that parents can face and have also held focus groups with a small number of parents themselves. This will inform our policy consideration.

Foreign Companies and Foreign Investment in UK

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to prevent the outflow of businesses and investment from the UK.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK remains a great place to do business. Our ambitious Industrial Strategy is comprised of a range of policies designed to build an economy fit for the future, fostering a competitive environment where businesses have the confidence to invest and thrive. This includes building long term strategic partnerships with businesses through Sector Deals and committing £37bn through the National Productivity Investment Fund by 2023/24. We are ensuring that innovative businesses have access to the finance they need. Through the British Business Bank, we are already supporting finance to over 78,000 SMEs. We are facilitating £20bn investment in high potential businesses, including establishing the £2.5bn British Patient Capital programme to co-invest with the private sector into venture and growth fund commitments.

Living Wage: Young People

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the number of people in the UK currently being paid the under-25 rate of the National Living Wage.

Kelly Tolhurst: Through the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage, the Government ensures that the lowest paid in our society are fairly rewarded for their work. Workers are entitled to different rates depending on their age. For those under the age of 25, the rates are set as high as possible without damaging their employment prospects. Workers aged 25 or over should be paid at least the National Living Wage (currently £7.83 an hour). Younger workers are entitled to one of the following National Minimum Wage rates: the 21-24 year old rate (currently £7.38 an hour), the 18-20 year old rate (£5.90) or the 16-17 year old rate (£4.20). Additionally, apprentices are entitled to the Apprentice rate (currently £3.70 an hour) either if they are aged under 19 or if they are aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship. In April 2018, those entitled to the 21-24 age rate saw the fastest percentage increase since 2006. Similarly, those entitled to the 18-20 age rate saw the fastest increase since 2004. The 16-17 rate had the fastest increase since 2008. The independent Low Pay Commission estimate there were 326,000 young workers paid the National Minimum Wage rates in April 2018. The Government will increase all of the minimum wage rates in April 2019, benefiting an estimated 417,000 young workers.

Minimum Wage: Prosecutions

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the number of prosecutions for non-payment of the National Minimum Wage (a) overall since 2010 and (b) for each year since 2010.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government is committed to enforcement of the minimum wage. We have increased HMRC’s annual minimum wage enforcement budget to £26.3 million, up from £13.2 million in 2015/16. In 2017/18, HMRC took action against more than 1,000 businesses, identifying £15.6 million of pay arrears for workers and levying financial penalties of £14 million. Since the beginning of 2010 there have been a total of seven prosecutions for breaches of National Minimum Wage law. These are itemised by year in Annex C of the following published document: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/742668/nmw-nlw-enforcement-compliance-report-2018.pdf HMRC refer cases to the Crown Prosecution Service, who ultimately decide whether to prosecute. HMRC’s priority is to ensure that workers receive the money they are owed. Criminal sanctions against companies can mean that workers end up waiting longer for their lost earnings to be paid back.

BMW

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 31 November 2019 to Question 213457 on BMW: Oxford, when he next plans to meet Peter Schwarzenbauer, BMW Board Member with responsibility for the UK, to discuss preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Richard Harrington: There are no immediate plans for my rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State to meet with Mr Peter Schwarzenbauer. We are determined to ensure that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive and other advanced manufacturing. Ministers and officials regularly meet senior automotive executives, both through the Automotive Council and individually, to discuss a wide range of matters.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Yemen: Prisoners

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is providing to the UN to arrange prisoner swaps between warring sides in Yemen.

Alistair Burt: We hold regular discussions with the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, in delivering the agreements made between parties at December’s UN peace talks in Stockholm, including a deal on the exchange of prisoners and detainees to build confidence between parties. The UK is funding the secondment of an expert individual to assist the UN on negotiating the prisoner exchange.

Iran: Fuels

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has made an estimate of the revenue that accrued to Iran from fuel exports that (a) complied and (b) did not comply with international sanctions in each year since 2015.

Alistair Burt: ​We track commercial estimates of Iran's oil exports. Following implementation of the Iran nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) in January 2016, international sanctions on Iran's oil trade were lifted or suspended and oil exports increased. The US's re-imposition, in November 2018, of secondary sanctions against Iran's oil trade has led to a reduction in oil exports from Iran. We do not, however, routinely collate data on the revenue accrued to Iran from these exports, which is subject to multiple variables.

Yemen: Fuels and Weapons

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the volume of imports into Yemen which have been in breach of sanctions on (a) weapons and (b) fuel in each year since in 2015.

Alistair Burt: The United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM) monitors imports via the Red Sea ports. Since its establishment in 2016, UNVIM has not recorded any breach of sanctions during their inspections for weapons or fuel via the Red Sea Ports.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Trade Associations

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which his Department has responsibility are currently undertaken by trade associations; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Field: The FCO has no regulatory functions undertaken by trade associations

Bahrain: Overseas Aid

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of spending by his Department's Integrated Activity Fund in Bahrain.

Alistair Burt: ​All spend from the Integrated Activity Fund in Bahrain is kept under regular review both in-country and by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.

China Central Television

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has raised with his Chinese counterpart reports of the alleged use of forced confessions on China Central Television.

Mark Field: The UK Government follows recent media reports of forced confessions on Chinese state media. We shall continue to urge the Chinese government to ensure fundamental civil and political rights are protected, in line with China’s constitution and its international commitments. All broadcasts in the UK are regulated by Ofcom and it is their decision whether any particular broadcasters are granted licences.​

International Assistance: Security

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,  whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a centralised system for recording Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessments.

Mark Field: The Overseas Security and Justice Assistance Assessments (OSJAs) are designed to aid and reform the decision making process for particular overseas projects or programmes of a security or justice nature. There are no certain merits in introducing a centralised system for recording OSJA assessments. Organisations responsible for delivering a particular activity must draft, maintain and file the OSJA assessments. Overseas Posts are responsible for maintaining the in-country stage 1 assessments in countries where HMG is regularly providing security and justice assistance. OSJAs pertaining to ongoing activity should be regularly updated, particularly when there are changes in strategic context or incidents serious enough to warrant reassessment. There is a benefit in taking a consistent approach across HMG, but this is dealt with by the knowledge of posts in particular areas, as well as a network of OSJA Leads in each department or organisation involved in security and justice assistance.

Saudi Arabia: Human Rights and Rule of Law

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support the Government provides to Saudi Arabian civil society to help them uphold the rule of law and fundamental human rights in the country.

Alistair Burt: Saudi Arabia remains a Foreign and Commonwealth Office human rights priority country, particularly because of the use of the death penalty, women’s rights and restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion or belief. We raise our concerns with the Saudi Arabian authorities using a range of Ministerial and diplomatic channels of communication, including our Ambassador and the Embassy team in Riyadh.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Cleaning Services

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2019 to Question 211155 on Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Contracts, for what reason cleaning staff (a) outside London are paid the statutory National Living Wage and (b) inside London are paid the London Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.

Alistair Burt: In line with the practice of previous Administrations, we do not require companies contracted to the Department to pay Living Wage Foundation’s living wage to the staff that they employ.Specific rates of pay are a matter for each individual contractor, as the employer, but assurances are provided to ensure full compliance with the requirements of the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage.​

Sudan: Human Rights

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to raise the matter of human rights of protesters and medical staff in Sudan at the next UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue.

Harriett Baldwin: In our Troika (UK, USA and Norway) statement of the 8 January we made clear that the Government of Sudan's response to ongoing protests will impact our approach to engagement. No date has been set for the next round of the UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue, but we continue to raise our human rights concerns at the highest levels, I did so most recently with the Sudanese Foreign Minister on 22 January.

Uganda: Entertainments and Music

Dr Paul Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January to Question 212672 on Uganda: Entertainments and Music, what representations he has made to his Ugandan counterpart on the proposed regulations to the Ugandan music and entertainment industry in that country.

Harriett Baldwin: ​The Ugandan Government continues to consult with representatives from the Ugandan music and entertainment industry on the proposed regulations. We await the outcome of these consultations. The UK position is that legislation should not be used to enable censorship; and we continue to raise directly with the Ugandan Government the importance of freedom of expression as a fundamental human right.

Sudan: Human Rights

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on freedom of religion and belief in Sudan of recent human rights violations in that country.

Harriett Baldwin: The root causes of the ongoing protests in Sudan are economic and political. There is no specific or separate religious dimension to them or to the Government of Sudan's response. More broadly, Sudan remains a Foreign and Commonwealth Office human rights priority country, including with regard to freedom of religion or belief; we engage with the Government of Sudan frequently to urge improvements in this area, most recently supporting an event in Khartoum with the Bishop of Leeds on 29 January to press for greater religious freedom for all Sudanese people.

Cyprus: Politics and Government

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has held with representatives of the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot authorities on the future of the island of Cyprus.

Sir Alan Duncan: The UK is a strong supporter of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue, based on the internationally accepted model of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. We endorse the UN Secretary-General's view that prospects for a settlement remain alive and welcome his continued willingness to work with and consult the parties on a way forward. We are supporting those consultations through dialogue with the parties and the UN. I held productive discussions with UN consultant on Cyprus Jane Holl-Lute on 8 January 2019, with Cypriot Foreign Minister Christodoulides on 5 November 2018, with the President of Cyprus's House of Representatives, Demetris Syllouris, on 25 October 2018 and with Turkish Cypriot Leader Mustafa Akinci on 24 October 2018. Officials in my Department regularly engage with the parties to the settlement talks.

Diplomatic Service: Finance

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the annual budget is for each embassy and high commission in 2018-19.

Sir Alan Duncan: Compiling figures on such a basis can only be achieved at disproportionate cost.

USA: NATO and United Nations

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to assess the commitment of the Government of the United States of America to (a) the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and (b) the United Nations.

Sir Alan Duncan: The UK is a strong supporter of both NATO and the United Nations, and of the rules-based international system more generally. The US is actively engaged in both bodies and we work closely with them, including in encouraging reforms, encouraging burden sharing and in dealing with key threats to peace and security, such as passing UNSCRs 2451 and 2452 to support the peace process in Yemen.

Cabinet Office

Grenfell Tower Inquiry

John Healey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the second phase of the Grenfell Inquiry is planned to (a) start and (b) conclude.

Chloe Smith: The Grenfell Tower Inquiry is an independent public Inquiry. The timetable for the Inquiry’s work is a matter for the Inquiry Chair, Sir Martin Moore-Bick. The Chair set out next steps for the Inquiry's work at the conclusion of the Phase 1 hearings on 12 December 2018. Sir Martin noted that he would like to start the Phase 2 hearings as soon as possible, but that there is significant preparatory work to do. A copy of the Chair's statement can be found in full on the Inquiry website https://www.grenfelltowerinquiry.org.uk/sites/default/files/inline-files/Chairman%20Statement%20121218.pdf

Knives: Crime

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many offences involving a knife have been committed in (a) London and (b) Havering Borough in each year since 2010.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 81.27 KB)

Crimes of Violence: Wolverhampton

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) violent crimes and (b) sexual offences were committed in Wolverhampton in each year since 2010.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 66.69 KB)

Electoral Register: Expenditure

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total cost to the public purse was of the introduction of the system of individual electoral registration; and how much the Government has spent on voter registration in each year since its implementation.

Chloe Smith: The total cost of IER has been £170m to date. Since the 2013/14 financial year, the Government has spent £27m on voter registration. This is in addition to the significant work done by EROs in their local authorities to maintain the completeness and accuracy of their local registers.

Pay: Liverpool

Maria Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average annual earnings were of the bottom five deciles in Liverpool in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014, (f) 2015, (g) 2016, (h) 2017 and (i) 2018.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply and the table to be deposited into the Library.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 69.95 KB)

Pay: Liverpool

Maria Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average annual earnings were of the top five deciles in Liverpool in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014, (f) 2015, (g) 2016, (h) 2017 and (i) 2018.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply and the table to be deposited into the Library.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 69.95 KB)

Public Sector: Blockchain

Eddie Hughes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2018 to Question 133516 on Public Sector: Blockchain,  what progress has been made on the potential use of distributed ledger technologies and blockchain; and if he will make a statement.

Oliver Dowden: In August 2018, the government released the “Technology innovation in government survey”, which highlighted potential uses of distributed ledger technologies (DLT). The Government’s Innovation Strategy will be launched in spring 2019. This strategy will address barriers to departments trialling emerging technologies, which may include DLT, in order to improve public services and drive public sector innovation.

Government Departments: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the estimated increase is in the total cost of projects in the Government Major Projects Portfolio that is attributed to pressures on Departments from preparations for the UK leaving the EU.

Oliver Dowden: The Cabinet Office does not hold this information centrally.

Cabinet Office: Public Expenditure

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, to what does the expense area Civil Service Group in the Cabinet Office spend data for December 2018 refers.

Oliver Dowden: Civil Service Group (CSG) is a management unit within the Cabinet Office. It is responsible for strengthening and transforming the Civil Service as it tackles an increasingly complex set of challenges. This includes responsibility for Civil Service Strategy, embedding the vision for ‘A Brilliant Civil Service’, and implementing the cross-government Functional model. In delivering these activities CSG provides direct support to the Cabinet Secretary and the Chief Executive of the Civil Service & Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office.

Brexit: Festivals and Special Occasions

Patrick Grady: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the Answer of 18 January 2018 to Question 121510, whether the Government has plans for ceremonial or official events to mark the formal exit of the UK from the European Union.

Mr David Lidington: Further to my answer of 18 January 2018, (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-01-08/121510/) the Royal Mint will produce a coin to commemorate the UK leaving the European Union.The Royal Mint has a long-established tradition of producing coins in order to commemorate historic moments, including the 2012 Olympics, the UK’s accession to the European Economic Community, and the centenary of the First World War.

Crown Commercial Service

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of consultancy agreement business tendered through Crown Commercial Service Consultancy agreements went to SMEs in each of the last five financial years.

Oliver Dowden: The Management Consultancy Framework (MCF) agreements have been designed by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) to support the increased use of SMEs and a large proportion of framework suppliers are SMEs. Since 1st April 2014, 10.05% of total spend through the following CCS managed commercial arrangements has gone to SMEs: ConsultancyONE (RM1502)MCF (RM3745)MCF2 (RM6008)

Reducing Regulation Committee

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who the members are of the Reducing Regulation Committee.

Oliver Dowden: Details of the membership of Cabinet Committees are available on Gov.UK. The Reducing Regulation sub-Committee is comprised of the Business Secretary, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Lord Chancellor, the Trade Secretary, Environment Secretary, the Leader of the House of Commons, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the Minister of State for Employment, the Minister of State for Exiting the EU and the Parliamentary Secretary at the department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Constituencies

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to implement the findings of the 2018 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries.

Chloe Smith: The Government laid the final reports of the four Boundary Commissions in the Boundary Review before Parliament in September 2018. A draft Order in Council will be required to give effect to the recommendations contained in the reports. The final proposals will be debated and there will be a vote in both Houses in due course in the usual way.

Government Departments: Contracts

Jo Stevens: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many of the total number of public contracts tendered by Government departments were awarded to UK companies in each of the last two years.

Oliver Dowden: Central government does not record the value of contracts by supplier nationality. However, in 2014, government published an analysis of contracts won by firms with UK addresses:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-uk-and-eu-balance-of-competences-call-for-evidence-on-the-single-market-free-movement-of-services

Department of Health and Social Care

Alcoholic Drinks: Children

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce underage drinking.

Steve Brine: Local authorities are responsible for assessing local need and commissioning prevention initiatives and alcohol and drug services for young people, using the public health grant. Public Health England (PHE) and the Home Office fund Mentor UK’s Alcohol and Drug Education and Prevention Information Service which provides evidence-based practical advice and tools, including briefing sheets for teachers, available to view at the following link: http://mentor-adepis.org/ PHE’s Rise Above social marketing programme aims to equip 11 to 16 year olds with the skills required to reject or manage risky behaviours, including drinking alcohol. It reaches young people via social media and provides accredited lesson plans for use in secondary schools. The Rise Above website is available at the following link: https://riseabove.org.uk/ The protection of children is one of four licensing objectives that local licensing authorities are required to uphold. A mandatory licence condition requires all licensed premises to have a policy on age verification and to require anyone who appears under 18 to verify their age.

Diabetes

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of people experiencing insulin resistance.

Steve Brine: Lifestyle interventions that promote weight loss and physical activity, such as the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, will address insulin resistance and improve insulin sensitivity. A number of stated intentions in the NHS Long Term Plan also serve to address insulin resistance in individuals. These include:- Targeted support and access to weight management services in primary care for people with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes or hypertension with a Body Mass Index of 30 or over (adjusted appropriately for ethnicity); - The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme which supports those at high risk of type 2 diabetes. A joint commitment by NHS England, Public Health England and Diabetes UK, the programme is the largest undertaking of its kind in the world and over 100,000 people have already benefited since its introduction in 2016. In many areas demand has outstripped supply, and it has proven highly effective. NHS England is now committing to fund a doubling of the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme over the next five years, including a new digital option to widen patient choice and target inequality; - Medical research has shown that some people with type 2 diabetes can achieve remission through adoption of a very low calorie diet. NHS England will test an NHS programme supporting very low calorie diets for obese people with type 2 diabetes; and - Together with professional bodies and universities, NHS England will ensure nutrition has a greater place in professional education training.

Macular Degeneration

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when stem cell treatments for wet age-related macular degeneration will be made available on the NHS.

Caroline Dinenage: Stem cell treatments for macular degeneration are in an early experimental phase of development. It is too early at present for the National Health Service to consider making it available.

Multiple Sclerosis

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when haematopoietic stem cell transplantation treatment will be made available on the NHS for people with multiple sclerosis.

Caroline Dinenage: NHS England has a published commissioning policy which permits access to autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplant as a clinical option for some patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have been clinically assessed as eligible by transplant and MS specialists taking into account risks and benefits. The commissioning policy is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/01/b04-haematp-stem-cll-transplt.pdf

Obesity: Children

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce levels of obesity among (a) Asian and (b) other BAME children.

Steve Brine: We published the second chapter of our world-leading childhood obesity plan in June 2018. This builds on the real progress we have made since the publication of chapter one in 2016, particularly in reformulation of the products our children eat and drink most. In chapter two we have set a bold ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030 and significantly reduce the gap in obesity between children from the most and least deprived areas by 2030. Through chapter two of our plan, we are delivering a trailblazer programme working with local authorities to address childhood obesity at local level. The programme has a strong focus on inequalities and ethnic disparities in childhood obesity and will support a small number of local authorities to take innovative action to address these issues in their community. It is a priority to encourage and support all local authorities to address these issues and we will share learning and best practice throughout the programme.

Glaucoma

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been diagnosed with glaucoma in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine: This data is not held.

Joint Replacements

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce NHS waiting times for (a) hip and (b) knee operations.

Stephen Hammond: Clinical commissioning groups are putting in place a number of initiatives to better manage the increasing demand for elective services, including those related to hips and knees. The NHS Long Term Plan sets out a number of other ways in which the National Health Service will look to reduce avoidable demand and improve waiting times for all elective care services. This includes a commitment that any patient who has been waiting for more than six months will be reviewed and given the option of faster treatment at an alternative provider. In addition, NHS England’s ‘Operational and Planning Guidance for 2019/20’ sets out deliverables against key performance areas, including referral-to-treatment, and the Government expects the NHS to deliver these actions set – in full – as key steps towards fully recovering performance against core access standards.

Influenza: Vaccination

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the finding of Public Health England's news story of 18 July 2018, Flu vaccine effectiveness in 2017 to 2018 that the flu vaccine was 15 per cent effective in all age groups, what steps he is taking to improve the effectiveness of the flu vaccine.

Steve Brine: Public Health England monitors the vaccine effectiveness of influenza vaccines each year against all the strains in circulation. The effectiveness observed varies from year to year, depending on factors such as the match between those strains in circulation and those in the vaccine. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) keeps the influenza vaccine programme under constant review and assesses new influenza vaccines ahead of licensure to ensure that improved products can be brought rapidly to the United Kingdom population. The JCVI has recently reviewed three new influenza vaccines with evidence of improved effectiveness. Further information is available at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation#influenza-vaccines-jcvi-advice Based on the JCVI advice, NHS England then advises doctors on when to use these newer influenza vaccines. In 2018/19 those aged 65 and above were offered adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine. Cell cultured quadrivalent influenza vaccine will also be advised for use in 2019/20.

Diabetes

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it a requirement that all care home providers routinely check the blood sugar levels of their diabetic occupants.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government has no plans to make it a requirement that all care home providers routinely check the blood sugar levels of their diabetic occupants. Where there is a need to address the care of older people with diabetes who are resident in care homes we would expect all local health economies to ensure that there is appropriate monitoring and managing of blood sugar levels and for health and care partners to work together to achieve this. The NHS Long Term Plan has set out plans to upgrade National Health Service support to all care home residents who would benefit by 2023/24. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors, inspects and regulates the quality of adult social services. Everyone has the right to receive safe, high-quality care, and if the CQC find instances where care has fallen short of this, they will use their powers to make sure people get the services they are entitled to.

Cystic Fibrosis

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis.

Steve Brine: The data on the number of people diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) is not held. In October 2017, The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published new guidance for the diagnosis and management of CF which states that 1 in every 2500 babies born in the United Kingdom has CF. This guidance can be found via the following link: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng78#

Scoliosis

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been living with a diagnosis of scoliosis in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine: The data on the number of people who have been living with a diagnosis of scoliosis in each of the last five years is not held.

Incontinence

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have a diagnosis of incontinence.

Steve Brine: NHS England published revised guidance on Continence Care in July 2018 which is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/excellence-in-continence-care.pdf This guidance states that in the United Kingdom an estimated 14 million men, women, young people and children of all ages are living with bladder problems, 900,000 children and young people suffer from bladder and bowel dysfunction, and 6.5 million adults suffer with some form of bowel problem.

Diabetes

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been living with a diagnosis of diabetes in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine: NHS Digital has provided the following data that details the number of people who were registered with diabetes or under the care of a specialist diabetes service in England in each of the five National Diabetes Audit (NDA) periods 2013/14 to 2017/18: LevelDiabetes Type2013-142014-152015-162016-172017-18EnglandType 1143,910149,825203,035227,410248,240EnglandType 2 and other1,458,2751,567,2952,327,5252,772,4452,952,695EnglandTotal1,602,1851,717,1202,530,5602,999,8553,200,930Audit Participation57.1%57.3%82.4%95.3%98.2%Source: NDA Notes:Disclosure control has been applied to all figures, as per the NDA publication - all numbers are rounded to the nearest 5, unless the number is 1 to 7, in which case it is rounded to ‘5’. It should be noted that participation was particularly low for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 audit periods. Audit participation is the percentage of eligible general practitioner practices in England and Wales that submitted data to the NDA during the audit period. To be eligible, a practice must have been open for the full audit period.

Anaemia

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been diagnosed with anaemia in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine: The data on the number of people who have been diagnosed with anaemia in each of the last five years is not held.

Health Services: Disadvantaged

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the link between areas of deprivation and health service usage.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Government seeks to ensure everyone has the same opportunity for a long, healthy life. There are currently inequalities in the use of health services with the most deprived parts of the population having more avoidable hospital admissions and greater use of accident and emergency services. This is why the Department’s prevention vision puts prevention at the heart of the nation’s health, shifting the focus from treatment of individual conditions to improving long term health for all and putting more resource into primary and community care. The NHS Long Term Plan sets out how the National Health Service will develop over the coming years and take stronger action surrounding health inequalities. NHS England has committed to ensuring a higher share of funding goes towards geographies with high health inequalities. This funding is estimated to be worth over £1 billion by 2023/24.

Tobacco: Sales

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018, whether products produced before the UK leaves the EU will still be legal to sell after the UK leaves the EU.

Steve Brine: In the event of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union without a deal, the Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 allow for tobacco products produced before exit day, with EU picture warnings, to be sold for 12 months after exit day. Any products manufactured after exit day will need to include the new picture health warnings which are introduced by the above legislation. Tobacco products and e-cigarettes which have been notified via the EU notification system prior to exit day will not need to be notified again after exit day, unless there are substantive change to products.

Air Pollution

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2018 to Question 174612 on Air pollution, what evidence he is using to assess the safe limit for public health of inhalation of PM0.1 and PM1 particles.

Steve Brine: The reviews by the Health Effects Institute and World Health Organization of the effects of different components of air pollution, including ultrafine particles (PM0.1), concluded that there is currently limited evidence on the effects on health of ultrafine particles. These reviews are both available to view at the following links: https://www.healtheffects.org/publication/understanding-health-effects-ambient-ultrafine-particles http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/193108/REVIHAAP-Final-technical-report-final-version.pdf?ua=1 Recent assessments have been undertaken of the health effects of long-term exposure to the air pollution mixture in the United Kingdom. This was based on studies reporting associations of mortality risk with fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which includes PM1 and PM0.1, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Findings of these assessments are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nitrogen-dioxide-effects-on-mortality No separate assessment of the impact of PM1 and PM0.1 components of particulate air pollution has been produced.

Air Pollution

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care,  pursuant to his Answer of 15 October 2018 to Question 174612, Air Pollution, as the COMEAP study to which he refers was carried out in 2012, if he will (a) ask that body to conduct a further study on the effects of particulate air pollution on mortality in the UK and (b) will ensure that such a new study includes PM0.1 and PM1.

Steve Brine: Recent assessments have been undertaken of the health effects of long-term exposure to the air pollution mixture in the United Kingdom, based on studies reporting associations of mortality risk with fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which includes PM1 and PM0.1, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). No separate assessments of the impact of the PM1 and PM0.1 components (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 1 or 0.1 microns respectively) of particulate air pollution have been produced. The recent Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants assessment is available to view at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nitrogen-dioxide-effects-on-mortality The reviews by the Health Effects Institute and World Health Organization of the effects of different components of air pollution, including ultrafine particles (PM0.1), concluded that there is currently limited evidence on the effects on health of ultrafine particles. These reviews are available at the following links: https://www.healtheffects.org/publication/understanding-health-effects-ambient-ultrafine-particles http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/193108/REVIHAAP-Final-technical-report-final-version.pdf?ua=1 Currently, Public Health England has no plans to engage in work on the effects of PM1 and PM0.1 particles on human health.

Incinerators: Air Pollution

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ask Public Health England to carry out a study of where emissions of (a) PM0.1, (b) PM1 and (c) PM2.5 from municipal waste incinerators land.

Steve Brine: The Environment Agency manages the United Kingdom’s national air quality monitoring sites on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the devolved administrations. The Environment Agency assesses the effects of emissions on air quality as part of the permitting process for municipal waste incinerators (MWIs). Public Health England (PHE) has no plans to engage in work on where emissions of PM0.1, PM1 and PM2.5 from MWIs land. When consulted, PHE provides an expert and independent opinion to the regulator, the Environment Agency, on the potential impacts, including from particulate matter, on human health of emissions arising from existing or proposed regulated facilities such as MWIs. PHE’s position is that well run and regulated modern MWIs are not a significant risk to public health. This view is based on detailed assessments of the effects of air pollutants on health and on the fact that modern MWIs make a small contribution to local concentrations of air pollutants. Further information is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/municipal-waste-incinerator-emissions-to-air-impact-on-health

Incinerators: Air Pollution

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the recent National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory point source data for municipal solid waste incinerators that shows that in 2016 waste incinerators emitted 8996 Kg of PM0.1 and 51,042 Kg of PM1, if (a) his Department or (b) Public Health England will make an assessment of the effects of those emissions on (i) human health and (ii) air quality in the vicinity of those incinerators.

Steve Brine: The reviews by the Health Effects Institute and World Health Organization of the effects of different components of air pollution, including ultrafine particles (PM0.1), concluded that there is currently limited evidence on the effects on health of ultrafine particles. Recent assessments have been undertaken of the health effects of long-term exposure to the air pollution mixture in the United Kingdom. This was based on studies reporting associations of mortality risk with fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which includes PM1 and PM0.1, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Findings of these assessments are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nitrogen-dioxide-effects-on-mortality No separate assessment of the impact of PM1 and PM0.1 components of particulate air pollution has been produced. Public Health England’s (PHE’s) position is that well run and regulated modern municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) are not a significant risk to public health. This view is based on detailed assessments of the effects of air pollutants on health and on the fact that modern MWIs make a small contribution to local concentrations of air pollutants. PHE’s position statement is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/municipal-waste-incinerator-emissions-to-air-impact-on-health

Incinerators: Air Pollution

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps Public Health England has taken to assess air quality in the vicinity of waste incinerators.

Steve Brine: Public Health England (PHE) has funded a study to further extend the evidence base as to whether emissions from modern municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) affect human health. This includes a paper estimating exposure from MWIs. It found that the amount of particulate matter people are exposed to from municipal waste incinerators emissions is very low. The results of this study are available to view at the following link: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.6b06478 When consulted, PHE provides an expert and independent opinion to the regulator, the Environment Agency, on the potential impacts, including from particulate matter, on human health of emissions arising from existing or proposed regulated facilities, such as MWIs. PHE’s position is that well run and regulated modern MWIs are not a significant risk to public health. This view is based on detailed assessments of the effects of air pollutants on health and on the fact that modern MWIs make a small contribution to local concentrations of air pollutants. The full publication is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/municipal-waste-incinerator-emissions-to-air-impact-on-health

Incinerators

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) his Department and (b) Public Health England has made an assessment of the effect on (i) air quality and (ii) human health of different stack heights of waste incinerators.

Steve Brine: The Environment Agency assesses the effects of emissions on air quality, taking into account stack height, as part of the permitting process for municipal waste incinerators (MWIs). When consulted, Public Health England (PHE) provides an expert and independent opinion to the regulator, the Environment Agency, on the potential impacts on human health of emissions arising from existing or proposed regulated facilities, such as MWIs. PHE’s position is that well run and regulated modern MWIs are not a significant risk to public health. This view is based on detailed assessments of the effects of air pollutants on health and on the fact that modern MWIs make a small contribution to local concentrations of air pollutants. The assessment is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/municipal-waste-incinerator-emissions-to-air-impact-on-health PHE has no plans to engage in work on the effects of air quality and human health of different stack heights of waste incinerators.

Dementia

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 15 of the NHS Long Term Plan, published in January 2019, whether the revised GP Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) proposed in that plan will effect QOF indicators for dementia including (a) new diagnoses, (b) care plans or memory assessment reviews and (c) named carers on records.

Steve Brine: Major reform to the GP contract was announced at the NHS England Board meeting on 31 January 2019, which sets out significant investment in general practice, including a focus upon improving care to some of the most vulnerable patients through a multidisciplinary approach. Further information is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/gpfv/investment/gp-contract/ It also included changes to the Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF), reflecting the recommendations of the QOF Review published by NHS England in July 2018 is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/quality-outcome-framework-report-of-the-review.pdf Key changes to the QOF include:- The retirement of 28 indicators which are either no longer in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, suffer from known measurement problems (usually because of small numbers at a practice level) or represent core general practice activities (175 points);- The introduction of 15 new indicators in relation to blood pressure management, diabetes, cervical screening, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and mental health (101 points). These should lead to improvements in patient care and ultimately outcomes;- The replacement of exception reporting with a personalised care adjustment which recognises the necessity for practices to be able to tailor care to individual patients; and- The introduction of a quality improvement domain worth 74 points in 2019/20 and, in the first year, focused upon prescribing safety and end of life care. A number of further reviews of the QOF domains are planned, including that for mental health. In relation to dementia specifically, the current indicator DEM005 (pre-diagnosis blood tests) will be retired due to the small numbers at practice level. This decision is in line with the recommendations of the QOF review. There are no changes to the other two dementia care indicators which focus upon identification and care planning.

Preventive Medicine

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to 63 of the NHS Long Term Plan, published in January 2019, what estimate he has made of the number of the target 150,000 cases of heart attack, stroke and dementia to be prevented that will be cases of (a) heart attacks, (b) strokes and (c) dementia; and whether any interim targets will be set over the ten year period of that plan.

Steve Brine: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and management are key priorities for NHS England, and as such the NHS Long Term Plan contains details of a number of important measures in relation to CVD. A key milestone in the CVD section of the NHS Long Term Plan is that the National Health Service will help prevent up to 150,000 heart attacks, strokes and dementia cases over the next 10 years. The National Implementation Framework, to be published in the spring, will provide further information on how the NHS Long Term Plan will be implemented. Additional details, based on local health system five year plans, will be brought together in a detailed national implementation plan in the autumn. NHS England will continue to work closely with key partners and stakeholders, including the British Heart Foundation, Stroke Association, Alzheimer’s Society and other voluntary sector partners, as it supports the NHS to deliver the commitments set out in the NHS Long Term Plan.

Bacteriophages

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using bacteriophages as an alternative to antibiotics.

Steve Brine: The Department and the Wellcome Trust sponsored a strategic pipeline briefing into alternatives to antibiotics in 2015. The briefing reviewed the feasibility and potential clinical impact of alternatives to antibiotics, including bacteriophages, and considered approaches that were most likely to deliver new treatments in the next 10 years. The briefing concluded that bacteriophages were possible therapeutics, but too few were being progressed. The Government continues to invest in research into new and alternative treatments. While there has been increased investment and unprecedented levels of research collaboration on antimicrobial resistance, there are still relatively few projects looking at the use of bacteriophages.

NHS: Drugs

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether combination treatments will be assessed in the review of NICE technology appraisal methods set out in the 2019 voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access.

Steve Brine: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence it will begin scoping what will be considered in the review of its technology appraisal methods in the 2019/20 business year.

Disability: Children

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to improve the quality of health and social care services for disabled children.

Caroline Dinenage: The NHS Long Term Plan set out a range of actions to improve health outcomes for disabled children and young people. Over the next three years, autism diagnosis will be included alongside work with children’s mental health services to test and implement the most effective ways to reduce waiting times for specialist services. By 2023/24 children and young people with a learning disability or autism, with the most complex needs will have a designated keyworker. NHS England will work with partners to allow hearing, sight and dental checks for children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both in special residential schools. Over the next five years, we will see the national learning disability improvement standards implemented across all services funded by the National Health Service, and by 2023/24, a digital flag in electronic patient records will ensure staff know the reasonable adjustments needed by a person with a learning disability or autism. In 2019/20, we will continue to fund sports and activity prostheses for children who have suffered limb loss or who have a limb deficiency. The Department continue to work with the Department for Education to ensure health services and social care services work together locally to deliver the best outcomes for children with a disability.

Haematological Cancer

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 29 March 2018 to Question 134294 on Haematological Cancer, when he plans for the evaluation of the rapid diagnostic centres to be published; and he plans for that evaluation to inform the national roll-out of the centres as proposed in the NHS Long-Term Plan.

Steve Brine: Ten multi-disciplinary diagnostic centres are being piloted through the Accelerate, Co-ordinate, Evaluate (ACE) partnership between Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and NHS England. This pilot programme will end in March 2019. Early findings from those sites informed the plans for roll out of the Rapid Diagnostic Centres as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. During 2019/20, the ACE Programme will share further evaluation from the pilot centres. The findings will continue to inform plans for expansion of the Rapid Diagnostic Centres, alongside work being led by Cancer Alliances to improve early diagnosis.

Asparaginase

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 18 January 2019 to Question 207238 on Asparaginase, what steps Porton Biopharma will take to increase capacity of erwinase and better supply the (a) UK and (b) world market for the remainder of 2019.

Steve Brine: Porton Biopharma Ltd (PBL) are implementing a series of initiatives to increase capacity and supply in both the short and long term. These include the following:- Extending operational activities to 24 hours a day, seven days a week to maximise fermentation of the product;- Implementing an ongoing capital programme including construction of a new pharmaceutical fermentation facility. The facility was completed in April 2018 and is currently undergoing testing; it has an increased capacity fermentation suite which will enable PBL to manufacture at larger scale and is due to start producing product Q3 2019 for regulatory approval to market;- A new filling and freeze-drying building was completed in February 2016. The installation of a new filling line which covers the entire process, including vial washing, filling, stoppering and freeze drying. The new line has been designed with systems which monitor all critical parameters throughout the process to accelerate batch release and will accommodate increased capacity. The beneficial use of this and the fermentation facility will coincide to maximise increased product output; and- Sourcing replacement suppliers, including for new stoppers and new vials for the product, ensuring that maximum batch sizes can be achieved with minimal product rejects. This programme is complete. PBL has made significant investments into increasing product capacity and will continue to release future batches as soon as they become available to Jazz Pharmaceuticals (who are responsible for the packaging/distribution and allocation of worldwide product supply).

Dental Services: Expenditure

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2018 to Question 147920 on NHS: Dental Services, what the total expenditure was on NHS dental services (a) gross and (b) net of patient charge revenue in 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June to Question 147920 on NHS: Dental Services, what the expenditure was on NHS dental services net of patient charge revenue per head of population in 2017-18.

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 5 June to Question 147921 on NHS: Dental Services, what the patient charge revenue was in 2017-18 (a) in total and (b) as a proportion of the total expenditure on NHS dental services.

Steve Brine: The following table shows total gross and net expenditure on National Health Service primary care dental services, total expenditure on such services net of patient charge revenue per head of population and the proportion of patient charge revenue to total expenditure for such services for 2017/18. NHS Dentistry2017/18Gross expenditure (millions)22,812Patient Charge Revenue (millions)2807Net Expenditure (millions)2,004Mid-year population estimate (millions)155.6Net expenditure per capita£36.04Patient charge revenue as a percentage of expenditure on total NHS dental services28.7% 1Source for mid-year population estimates: Office for National Statisticshttps://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/timeseries/enpop/pop 2Source: the Department of Health and Social Care Annual Report and Accounts, Fees and Charges disclosure for each financial year

Mental Health Services: Children

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding from the public purse was available to (a) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and (b) all other child mental health services in each of the six local authority areas in the Liverpool City Region in each of the past five years for which data are available; and what funding is available to each of those areas for each of the next two years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Information relating to funding on National Health Service children and young people’s mental health services is not available by local authority area, but is published through the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health Dashboard by NHS England region, sustainability and transformation plan area and by clinical commissioning group, including for Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group. The Dashboard is available at the following link: www.england.nhs.uk/publication/mental-health-five-year-forward-view-dashboard/ Information on funding for all other children and young people’s mental health services is not held centrally.

Health Visitors

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many health visitors were employed in (a) Wirral, (b) the Liverpool City Region and (c) England in each of the last five years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS Digital publishes Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) workforce statistics for England. These include only staff working in hospital trusts and clinical commissioning groups, but not staff working in primary care, local authorities or other providers. Some other organisations also provide health visiting services, so the data held by the Department only reflects a section of the overall health visitor numbers. The following table shows the full time equivalent (FTE) figures for health visitors for England, Liverpool City Region and Wirral as at 30 September in the specified years and the latest data available: 2014201520162017201831 October 2018England9,16210,2369,5218,4977,8847,845Of which  Liverpool City Region526579715708679675Of which  Wirral125138203203215210Source: NHS HCHS monthly workforce statistics, NHS Digital NHS Digital began to collect and publish data on staff, including health visitors, in some English independent sector healthcare organisations, from September 2015. These statistics are collected biannually and published as experimental statistics. The following table shows the FTE figures of health visitors employed by independent healthcare providers in England who provide valid data, as at 30 September each year since 2015 and the latest data available: 20152016201731 March 2018England9571,1321,2401,187Source: Independent Healthcare Provider Workforce Statistics, England, March 2018, NHS Digital. Trends here may partly reflect which providers NHS Digital gets data from. Information is not held centrally on number of health visitors in each local authority area.

Diabetes: Medical Equipment

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to section 3.7.1 of the NHS Operational Planning Guidance 2019-20, how much funding is being held back from overall CCG allocations to create a time-limited national budget for flash glucose monitoring devices; how much funding is being so held back from each CCG; for how many financial years the time limited budget will be held back; and if he will make a statement.

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to section of 3.7.1 of the NHS Operational Planning Guidance 2019-20, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people with type 1 diabetes that will be provided with flash glucose monitoring devices as a result of the time-limited national budget.

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to section 3.7.1 of the NHS Operational Planning Guidance 2019-20 which NHS organisations will have control of the time-limited national budget for flash glucose monitoring devices.

Steve Brine: In November 2018, NHS England announced action to end the current variation in accessing flash glucose monitors. From April 2019 there will be a more consistent national approach to availability of this device. NHS England is currently working up detailed clinical criteria for who would be able to access the device. NHS England estimates that current guidelines on the use of flash glucose monitoring suggest that it could be beneficial for around 20% of those with type 1 diabetes (20% or approximately 45,000 people). NHS England is committed to making funding available in 2019/20 and 2020/21 which will be used to reimburse clinical commissioning groups based on the number of prescriptions made for flash glucose monitor sensors. Details of the funding arrangements have not yet been confirmed.

Diabetes

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the suppliers of (a) diabetes technology, (b) blood glucose testing strips, and (c) insulin on (i) contingency planning and (ii) stockpiling for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Stephen Hammond: Diabetes technology, blood glucose testing strips and insulin are vitally important to many people in this country. The Department’s European Union exit contingency plans, aim to ensure that the supply of insulin, other essential diabetes medicines and related medical products is not disrupted in any EU exit scenario. Patients can be confident in the Department’s no deal contingency plans which include sensible mitigations for all medicines and medical products that come to the UK from or via the EU / European Economic Area, such as precautionary stockpiling of many of those products by suppliers. The Department has received very good engagement from industry, including suppliers of insulin and related products, who share our aims of ensuring that continuity of medicines, medical devices and clinical consumable supplies for patients is maintained, and that suppliers are able to cope with any potential delays at the border that may arise in the short term in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit. The Department is unable to provide further detail of that engagement because, to reassure participating companies, we are committed to treating all information received confidentially, securely and to using it only for the purposes of the Department’s contingency programmes.

Diabetes: Medical Equipment

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether measures are in place to guarantee patient choice is taken into account to ensure that people with diabetes are able to access their preferred glucose meter for their condition.

Steve Brine: Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for commissioning diabetes services and technologies for their local populations. They are also expected to take National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines into consideration when making their decisions. CCGs remain best placed to do this as they are clinically led organisations that have both the local knowledge and local accountability to make these complex commissioning decisions in the best interests of patients. The Government is committed to giving patients greater choice and control over how they receive their health care, and to empowering patients to shape and manage their own health and care. The Government publishes an annual Choice Framework to help patients understand the choices they can expect to have. The Choice Framework explains:- When you have choices about your health care;- Where to get more information to help you choose; and- How to complain if you are not offered a choice.

Health: Disadvantaged

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps with Cabinet colleagues to tackle health inequalities that stem from income inequality.

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to tackle health inequality between the north and the south of England.

Jackie Doyle-Price: People’s lives and their health are shaped by issues such as poverty and income, education, employment, and housing and environment. This was recognised in ‘Prevention is better than cure: our vision to help you live well for longer’, published in November 2018. This vision illustrates how prevention can help us meet the Ageing Society Grand Challenge Mission, as set out by the Prime Minister last year as part of our Industrial Strategy. The Government’s ambition is to ensure that people can enjoy five extra healthy, independent years of life by 2035, while narrowing the gap between the experience of the richest and poorest areas. A Prevention Green Paper will set out our further plans. Public Health England and NHS Rightcare have produced tools and evidence to help commissioners understand the health of their populations and the issues driving inequalities in local areas. The NHS Long Term Plan has also set out action with all major programmes and every local area being required to set out specific measurable goals and mechanisms to reduce inequalities over the next five and 10 years.

Vaping

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the UK will remain aligned with EU rules on nicotine strength in vaping products after the UK leaves the EU.

Steve Brine: As announced in the Tobacco Control Plan the Government will review where the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union offers us opportunities to re-appraise current regulation to ensure this continues to protect the nation’s health. We will look to identify where we can sensibly deregulate without harming public health, or where EU regulations limit our ability to deal with tobacco.

Department of Health and Social Care: Trade Associations

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which his Department has responsibility are currently undertaken by trade associations; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: The information is not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Fibromyalgia

Angela Crawley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the use of cannabidiol treatment for people with fibromyalgia.

Steve Brine: The Department has made no assessment of the potential merits of the use of cannabidiol as a treatment for fibromyalgia.

Air Ambulance Services

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what arrangements exist to facilitate liaison between air ambulance services throughout the UK.

Stephen Hammond: Air ambulance services are independent charities with different governance arrangements and operating models. The Department does not have overview of the arrangements made by air ambulance services throughout the United Kingdom. Health is a devolved matter and liaison arrangements are decided locally in line with the needs of the population served by the air ambulance services.

Elton John AIDS Foundation: Finance

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, from which budget the £1.5 million in Government funding to the Elton John AIDS Foundation is coming from.

Steve Brine: The £1.5 million funding for the Elton John AIDS foundation will be allocated from the Department’s core budget.

Trimethylaminuria: Research

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to address the need for research into Trimethylaminuria; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government supports research into common and rare diseases through the Department funded National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in England. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including Trimethylaminuria. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. In all disease areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. The Government also supports research into rare diseases through the Medical Research Council, funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

NHS: Drugs

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of shortages of medicines held by (a) pharmacies and (b) suppliers in the last six months; and what effect the UK leaving the EU has had on the (i) price and (ii) availability of medicines in the UK.

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the levels of stock held by wholesalers of pharmaceutical, medical and healthcare products; and whether there have been (a) shortages and (b) price increases in the last six months.

Stephen Hammond: We have not seen any evidence that suggests there has been any changes to the volume of medicine shortages or price changes as a result of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. Our number one priority is to ensure the continued supply of medicines which is why we are working closely with industry and partners in the health system to manage the impact of EU exit. The Department has well established processes to manage and mitigate the small number of business as usual supply problems that may arise at any one time due to manufacturing or distribution issues and this has always been the case. We work closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), NHS England and the pharmaceutical industry to prevent medicine shortages, minimise the risks to patients and take appropriate action when shortages do occur.

Paramedical Staff: Training

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to allow student paramedics to have access to funds from the NHS Learning Support Fund.

Stephen Hammond: The NHS Learning Support Fund was developed in recognition of the compulsory clinical placement hours that student nurses, midwives and allied health professions within the scope of the reforms implemented in August 2017 need to complete in order to graduate from their courses. The route into paramedicine currently has various education and funding models. Therefore, paramedic training was not included in the scope of the reforms implemented in 2017. Financial support arrangements will be considered as paramedicine becomes an all degree subject, as agreed by the Health and Care Professions Council on 21 March 2018.

Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital: Accident and Emergency Departments

Graham P Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to visit the A&E department of the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital.

Caroline Dinenage: My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care visits a wide range of National Health Service and social care settings. While he has no immediate plans to visit Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, he will consider all options in plans for upcoming visits.

Pneumococcal Diseases: Vaccination

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to implement the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on reducing the dosage of pneumococcal vaccine from three to two.

Steve Brine: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advice on infant pneumococcal vaccination is being given full consideration and will take into account all the relevant information, including the potential public health implications such as impact on cases of pneumococcal disease, before a decision is made on whether to implement it.

Health: Screening

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page seven of the National Audit Office's 30 January 2019 report on the management of health screening, whether his Department is taking steps to improve the performance of the National Health Application and Infrastructure Services.

Steve Brine: NHS England has asked Sir Mike Richards to lead a review to improve the delivery of the screening programmes, and will consider how current IT systems support the ambitions of the cancer screening programmes. In the meantime, Capita, NHS Digital and NHS England are working to remove the reliance on National Health Application and Infrastructure Services by introducing new systems using spine data. These are expected to be delivered by spring 2020.

Health: Screening

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 7 of the National Audit Report's investigation into the management of health screening, published on 30 January 2019, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all adult screening programmes meet their standard coverage target set by his Department in 2017-18.

Steve Brine: The Department holds NHS England to account for the delivery of all adult screening programmes through regular Section 7a accountability meetings where the three organisations review all the key performance indicators for the functions of the S7a agreement including screening coverage data, with a focus on review to any service improvement initiatives and mitigating actions NHS England has put in place where there is underperformance. NHS England agrees contracts with providers of adult screening programmes to deliver the targets set by the Department, and NHS England manage these contracts to deliver the required performance. National and local levels of performance are measured to reduce variation in local levels of performance. NHS England also works closely with Public Health England and the Department and charities on campaigns to boost the proportion of the eligible population that attend for screening. These campaigns aim to increase awareness of the importance of screening. The Long Term Plan published in January sets an agenda to improve uptake of screening and ensure that all screening and vaccination programmes are designed to support a narrowing of health inequalities. Furthermore, NHS England announced in November 2018 that Professor Sir Mike Richards will lead a review of the national cancer screening programmes. The review, expected to report by summer 2019 will include recommendations about how best to maximise uptake of screening, and iron out variation in uptake rates between different geographical areas and different population groups.

Health: Screening

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 7 of the National Audit Report's investigation into the management of health screening, published on 30 January 2019, what steps his Department is taking to improve the coverage of adult health screening programmes provided by clinical commissioning groups, in particular for (a) abdominal aortic aneurysm and (b) bowel screening.

Steve Brine: As part of the NHS Long Term Plan published on 7 January 2019, the Government is investing £487 million in healthcare technology to improve patient care and reduce staff workload. The plan is underpinned by a five-year funding offer, which will see the National Health Service budget grow by over £20 billion a year in real terms by 2023-24. The NHS Long Term Plan expects the NHS to ensure all screening programmes are designed to support a narrowing of health inequalities and NHS England is taking major steps to make sure the delivery, performance and oversight of screening services meet the high standard NHS patients rightly expect. - National abdominal aortic aneurysm screening coverage in 2017/18 was 5.5 percentage points (80.5%) above the acceptable standard, however commissioners continue to work with providers where performance dips below standard to improve coverage. - The bowel screening programme coverage in 2017/18 was 59.6% against a standard target of 60%. NHS England is working closely with key partners including Public Health England to shortly implement the change in the current test used within the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme from the gFOB test to Faecal Immunochemical Test. Evidence shows that this new test is more accurate and will result in improved uptake rates. NHS England is working with clinical commissioning groups and screening units to maximise coverage of eligible men and women in their target population who are not registered with a general practitioner and subsequently not called for screening.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 7 of the National Audit Report's investigation into the management of health screening, published on 30 January 2019, how his Department plans to ensure that the standard for repeat breast screenings which guarantees an appointment within 36 months of a previous appointment is met with 100 per cent success.

Steve Brine: The NHS Breast Screening Programme minimum standard is that 90% of women should be re-invited within 36 months of their previous screen. The Department delegates NHS England to commission breast screening providers to work to the agreed national service specifications and provides supporting guidance produced by Public Health England (PHE) to ensure standards are met. Improvements to the current repeat breast screening interval (round length) to meet national standards require providers to balance ever changing parameters, such as the eligible population, availability of breast screening workforce, estates and the logistics of the mobile units, used for mammography. PHE is addressing the current workforce issue through supporting key stakeholders including Health Education England, the Royal College of Radiologists, and the Society and College of Radiographers to assist in workforce recruitment and retention of Radiographers and Radiologists. NHS England, at local level, is using the framework of the National Health Service contract to work with providers and PHE to also improve this standard.

NHS: Agency Workers

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2018 to Question 211317 on NHS: Agency Workers, what estimate his Department has made of the potential increase in costs as a result of staff shortages after the UK leaves the EU (i) with and (ii) without a deal.

Stephen Hammond: The Government continues to monitor and analyse overall staffing levels across the health and social care sector, and we are working across Government to ensure there will continue to be sufficient staff to deliver the high-quality services on which patients rely following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. We are working with EU nationals to ensure that they stay in the UK, and feel welcome and encouraged to do so.

Wales Office

Wales Office: Brexit

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2019 to Question 207565, Wales Office: Brexit, for what reason his Department holds no information on allocation of funding for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Nigel Adams: The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales is working to prepare for a successful UK exit from the EU. The work involves preparations for exit with and without a deal. Neither our organisational structures nor our allocations of funding distinguish between these scenarios.

Department for Education

Class Sizes

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average state school class size is in (a) the UK, (b) Hampshire and (c) the city of Portsmouth.

Nick Gibb: information on average class sizes in state-funded schools in England is published in the annual ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ statistical release: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2018.In January 2018, the average primary school class size was 27.1, while the average secondary school class size was 21.2.In Hampshire, the average class size for state-funded primary schools is 27.7, while the average class size for state-funded secondary schools is 23.0.In Portsmouth, the average class size for state-funded primary schools is 27.6, while the average class size for state-funded secondary schools is 21.9.​This only covers England, as education in the UK is a devolved matter.

Special Educational Needs

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that School Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators have enough (a) time and (b) resources to provide support to every child.

Nadhim Zahawi: We recognise the pivotal role that Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs) play in schools supporting children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND). We are committed to work with unions, teachers and Ofsted to challenge and remove unnecessary workload.We are currently developing resources specifically to support SENCOs. We are funding the Whole School Send Consortium to develop a SENCO Deployment Guide for school leaders which will include top tips and tools to help address SENCO workload challenges. This will be supported by an induction pack for new SENCOs.Every mainstream school and academy must have a SENCO who is a qualified teacher. On 28 January 2019, we published the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy and launched the Early Career Framework, which provides the starting point for a review of Initial Teacher Training content guidance. We are also reviewing the learning outcomes of the mandatory Masters level National Award in SEN Coordination to ensure the qualification reflects the changing needs of the educational system.

Social Work: Finance

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will (a) set a recommended social worker caseload figure and (b) provide funding to reduce the average caseloads of such workers.

Nadhim Zahawi: Local authorities are best placed to determine appropriate social worker caseload levels, taking into account their particular local needs, circumstances and structures. We are clear, however, that social worker caseloads must be manageable, so that social workers are able to make effective interventions to improve the lives of vulnerable children.We are supporting local authorities to consider how they can best manage delivery of services so that resources are used effectively, including through our £200 million investment in the Innovation Programme. In addition, the Autumn Budget announced an extra £410 million in 2019-20 for local authorities to invest in adult and children’s social care services. We are also investing £84 million, over five years, in targeted, evidence-based interventions to unlock better work with vulnerable children and their families. This will save money for local authorities and improve the quality of services for our most vulnerable children. We will consider long-term children’s services funding at the forthcoming spending review.

Children in Care: County Durham

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many looked after children have been transferred into County Durham from other local authorities.

Nadhim Zahawi: Information requested on the number of looked after children who have been transferred into County Durham from other local authorities is not held centrally.During the year ending 31 March 2018, 560 children in England ceased care because they had been transferred into the care of another local authority. This figure is published in table D1 of the statistical release ‘Children looked after in England including adoption: 2017 to 2018’ which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2017-to-2018. However, there is no universal child identifier which allows us to consistently track the movement of a looked after child between local authorities as children will receive a new identifier in the new local authority.

Education: Trade Agreements

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with his Cabinet colleagues on including education in the Government's trade strategy for bilateral agreements.

Chris Skidmore: The government announced on 21 January that the Department for Education and the Department for International Trade will produce an international education strategy in 2019. The strategy will set out the government’s ambition for international education, and plans to support the sector in driving growth in education exports. The UK is committed to pursuing ambitious trade agreements with the United States, Australia and New Zealand after we leave the European Union, which would seek to build on the UK’s current £19.9 billion of education export revenue. The UK government will continue to ensure that rigorous protections for public services are included in all trade agreements to which it is party.

Overseas Students: Employment

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has plans to improve the quality of its monitoring of the long-term employment destinations of overseas students that graduated at UK universities.

Chris Skidmore: The department has already taken steps to improve the recording of the long-term employment destinations of graduates. From the Longitudinal Education Outcomes data we have published the employment and earnings of higher education graduates at different points after graduation. This includes the employment and earnings specifically for international graduates who remained in the UK at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years after graduation. This information can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-higher-education-graduate-employment-and-earnings. In addition to this, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), responsible for collecting, processing, and publishing data about higher education in the UK, is enhancing the data it collects on graduate destinations. HESA’s new ‘Graduate Outcomes Survey’ will apply to 2017/18 graduates from all nations and record their location and activities around 15 months after completion of their studies. This is a longer-term view of graduate destinations than is currently available from the six-month Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey. This survey will also cover graduates who moved overseas after their studies.

Special Educational Needs

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, what recent steps the Government has taken to support the (a) inclusive education of disabled children and young people and (b) progressive removal of barriers to education and participation in mainstream education.

Nadhim Zahawi: The government’s commitment to inclusive education of disabled children and young people and the progressive removal of barriers to learning and participation in mainstream education is at the heart of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system. We have made substantial reforms to strengthen the SEND system in recent years, to improve the identification and meeting of the needs of children and young people and to improve families’ experiences of the system. As part of this, the Children and Families Act (2014) secured the general presumption in law of mainstream education in relation to decisions about where children and young people with SEND should be educated, complementing the protections in the Equality Act (2010) against disability discrimination. Recent steps we have taken to help disabled children and young people reach their full potential in mainstream education include the fact that we have been closely monitoring the pressures on high needs budgets and have provided additional high needs funding for local authorities, alongside their 2019-20 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) allocations: a further £125 million in 2018-19 and £125 million of high needs funding for 2019-20. We are investing £365 million in the Special Provision Capital Fund from 2018 to 2021, helping local authorities create new school places and improve existing facilities for children and young people with SEND. This capital funding is not ring-fenced and local authorities can use it as they see fit to improve special provision in their local areas. The funding can be invested in a range of settings, including mainstream and special schools or academies. We have required local authorities to publish their plans on how they use this funding, and these show that many local authorities intend to expand their specialist provision in mainstream schools. We recognise the importance of staff in mainstream schools having the skills to identify and meet the needs of pupils with SEND. This is why, for example, we have awarded a 2 year, £3.4 million contract to the Whole School SEND Consortium, led by Nasen, to deliver a programme of work to drive education institutions to prioritise SEND and equip schools to identify and meet the relevant training needs of their workforce. We have also funded the Autism Education Trust since 2011 to deliver autism awareness training to education staff in early years, schools and further education settings. This training has so far reached more than 195,000 people - not just teachers and teaching assistants, but also support staff such as receptionists, dining hall staff and caretakers, encouraging a ‘whole school’ approach to supporting pupils with autism. We are also reviewing the current SEND content in the Initial Teacher Training provision (ITT) and building on our existing SEND specialist qualifications to develop a continuum of learning from ITT, through teachers’ early careers and into specialist and leadership roles in support of the upcoming Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy.

Special Educational Needs: Free Schools

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's obligations under Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the free school programme; and how many special schools have opened under that programme.

Nadhim Zahawi: Our ambition for children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities is exactly the same as it is for all children – we want them to be able to do their best in school and reach their potential, including in free schools.As part of our commitments under the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, we are committed to inclusive education of disabled children and the progressive removal of barriers to learning and participation in mainstream education. The Children and Families Act 2014 secures the general presumption in law of mainstream education in relation to decisions about where children with SEN should be educated; and the Equality Act 2010 provides protection from disability discrimination. The SEN system rightly places considerable weight on the views of parents as to where a child with complex needs should be educated. While many parents of disabled children choose mainstream education, others will want a specialist setting. Some children have complex SEN that mean that the best educational experience for them is in a school that specialises in meeting those needs. For them, a special school is a positive choice.We have opened new special schools through the free schools programme: as of 1 January 2019, there are 34 open special free schools, and a further 55 special free schools have been approved to open in the future.

Residential Care Leadership Board: Public Appointments

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2018 to Question 130996, what progress has been made in appointing board members to the Residential Care Leadership Board.

Nadhim Zahawi: We have delayed recruiting board members to the Residential Care Leadership Board until it is agreed how the remit of the board will fit into the newly created National Stability Forum. The appointed Chair has continued to seek views from experts across the sector to enable the Department for Education to move forward with the agreed programme of work.

Children: Day Care

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for his policies of the conclusions in relation to (a) children living in poverty, (b) the provision of childcare available to low-income families and (c) the level of early years teachers of the Report entitled, It All Starts Here, published by Save the Children in 2018.

Nadhim Zahawi: We are committed to ensuring that all children have access to a high quality of early education and can achieve their full potential. The latest Ofsted data confirms that 95% of providers are now rated good and outstanding, up from 68% in 2010. Evidence tells us that children from disadvantaged backgrounds can be up to 19 months behind their better off peers in their learning by the time they start school. High-quality early learning from the age of two can help to narrow that gap. That is why we require local authorities to fund places for disadvantaged two-year-old children at providers judged ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Since its introduction in 2013, nearly three quarters of a million of the country’s most disadvantaged two-year-olds have benefitted from the entitlement to 15 hours of free early education a week. We do not require graduates in the private, voluntary and independent sector but remain committed to ensuring that there are training routes for those that wish to pursue graduate qualifications. For example, we continue to fund early years initial teacher training (EYITT). We are also investing £20 million in professional development and training for early years practitioners in disadvantaged areas.

Children in Care

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the reasons why the number of looked after children aged over 16 has increased; and what plans he has to manage that increase.

Nadhim Zahawi: Factors leading to there being more older than younger looked-after children include an increase in the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (who are mainly 15 to 17 year olds); increasing efforts to protect children from criminal activity such as child sexual exploitation and gang and drug culture; and a recent court judgement which means 16 to 17 year olds are taken into care when they present as homeless. The Department for Education is launching a new national Tackling Child Exploitation support service, backed by up to £2 million, which will operate up until 2022, to address child sexual exploitation together with other forms of child criminal exploitation. The department has also made a £1.3 million contribution to the controlling migration fund over two years to fund 8 local authorities to provide better access to initial assessment and education for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. The department remains committed to ensuring that local authorities only seek to take children into care where they must do so, including through the reform programme outlined in ‘Putting children first’. We are working across government and with local family justice boards to better understand the challenges in the family justice system and to consider what else can be done to address these. In addition at Autumn Budget, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced £84 million for ‘Strengthening families, protecting children’, a programme which will support a number of local authorities to improve their social work practice and decision-making, to support their most vulnerable children to stay safely at home, thriving in stable family circumstances - where that is in their best interests.

Social Services: Children

Dame Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to increase funding for children's services in Liverpool; and if he will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi: We have confirmed our settlement for local government for 2019-20, which sees a real-terms increase in local government spending power next year. Core spending power increases from £45.1 billion in 2018-19 to £46.4 billion in 2019-20. For Liverpool, core spending power will rise from £449 million in 2018-19 to £458 million in 2019-20.All long-term spending decisions are for this year’s Spending Review, when the government will set out its approach for the future.

Universities: Admissions

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions his Department has held with representatives of UK universities on the use of unconditional offers for undergraduate courses.

Chris Skidmore: We have made it clear to universities that we are concerned with the recent rapid increases in the numbers of unconditional offers being made. We have, consequently, asked the higher education regulator, the Office for Students, to review the practice and, where it identifies adverse impacts on students, to take action in accordance with its regulatory powers.

Free Schools

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of (a) the number of free school projects that were cancelled after receiving government funding and (b) the total cost to the public purse of cancelled free school projects in each year since the introduction of free schools.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

T-levels: South Yorkshire

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Department’s announcement: £38 million T Level Capital Fund launches, how much of the £38 million will be allocated to schools in (a) Sheffield City Region and (b) Barnsley Central constituency.

Anne Milton: The T Level Capital Fund is for 2020 providers only and will be delivered in two parts. Eligible further education providers who have been selected to deliver T levels in the academic year 2020-2021, such as Barnsley College, are able to bid for funding to refurbish their existing buildings or, where there is strong evidence to suggest a pressing need, to build new spaces. The results from this process will be known this summer.Funding for specialist equipment, such as digital and audio-visual kit, will be allocated in spring 2020 to providers who have been selected to deliver T levels in the academic year 2020-2021. We will make allocations using a formula based on the T level routes and the student numbers expected by the providers.

Children: Social Services

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the external research commissioned together with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and HM Treasury into the relative drivers of need in children’s social care will be published; and what the purpose is of that research.

Nadhim Zahawi: As part of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) led review of councils’ relative needs and resources, the Department for Education and MHCLG have jointly commissioned external research into the relative drivers of ‘need to spend’ on children’s services.The aim of this work is twofold: to develop a statistically robust, up-to-date approach to funding distribution for children’s services at local government finance settlements; and to gather useful data to better understand demand pressures. The current timescale is for a model ready to consult on later this year for use in the 2020-21 local government finance settlement.

Schools: Repairs and Maintenance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions his Department has had with the (a) Education and Skills Funding Authority (ESFA) and (b) Little Ilford School to ensure that ESFA-commissioned maintenance works are conducted without disruption to GCSE Science Practical.

Nick Gibb: The Department is aware of the issues with gas supply at Little Ilford School, which was rebuilt under phase one of the Priority School Building Programme and which opened in its new building in 2016.Air was seeping into the gas system, resulting in a lack of gas. Major work was carried out on the school’s gas pipework in summer 2018, which initially resolved the issue until late in the autumn term. The contractor, Wates, carried out testing over a weekend in January and reported blockages in the gas taps, caused by items including pencils and chewing gum. Wates recommended that the faulty taps should be replaced or repaired.The faulty gas outlets have now been replaced and repaired by the school and they have been advised to regularly check for blockages to prevent this issue reoccurring. This appears to have resolved the issue, but the Department continues to work with the school to monitor the situation and provide advice and training. Wates will go to the site during half term to ensure that all gas outlets are working correctly before the children return.

Students: Loans

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of students repaying student loan as a result of earning a salary above the threshold for non-payment.

Chris Skidmore: Estimates of the proportion of students repaying student loans, earning a salary above the threshold for non-payment are available in Table 6 of the Student loan forecasts, England: 2017 to 2018, which can be accessed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/student-loan-forecasts-england-2017-to-2018

Students: Loans

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate he has made of the cost of abolishing interest rates on student loans.

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse if interest rates on student loans were to be charged at Bank of England base rate.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested is not held centrally. Departmental estimates of changes to the interest rates on student loans are available in Table 7 of the Student loan forecasts, England: 2017 to 2018, which can be accessed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/student-loan-forecasts-england-2017-to-2018. The government is conducting a major review of Post-18 Education and Funding which aims to ensure we have a joined up system that is accessible to all and provides value for money for both students and taxpayers. It will consider how students and graduates contribute to the cost of their studies including the level, terms and duration of their contribution, while maintaining the link that those who benefit from post-18 education contribute to its costs.

Sixth Form Education: Finance

Heidi Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the national funding rate for sixth form students.

Heidi Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the adequacy of the national funding rate for sixth form students.

Heidi Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to increase the national funding rate for sixth form students.

Anne Milton: The departmental budget for spending on sixth form funding in England from 2015-16 to 2019-20 was set in the 2015 Spending Review. As with other areas of departmental spending, sixth form funding from 2020 onwards will be considered as part of the next Spending Review.We have protected the base rate of funding for 16 to 19 year olds for all types of providers until the end of the current spending review period in 2020 and overall, the government plans to invest nearly £7 billion during 2018-19, to ensure there is a place in education or training for every 16 to 19 year old who wants one. We are considering the efficiency and resilience of the sector and are assessing how far the current funding and regulatory structures enable high quality provision for young people.The department works closely with HM Treasury in considering sixth form funding at ministerial and official level, and will continue to do so in the lead-up to the Spending Review.

Teachers: Training

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Department's 28 January 2018 Early Career Framework, whether the £130m investment in early career teachers was (a) from his Department's budget or (b) additional funding from the Treasury.

Nick Gibb: By the time the early career reforms are fully in place, the Department anticipates investing at least £130 million every year to support the early career framework (ECF) delivery in full. Additional funding will be directed to individual schools, based on the number of early career teachers in each school, to ensure that this is funded in full, in every school.Teacher recruitment and retention is a high priority for the Government, and we are therefore committed to taking quick action. The Spending Review 2019 will set wider Departmental budgets and confirm the precise funding details for the ECF.

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Justice: Trade Associations

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which his Department has responsibility are currently undertaken by trade associations; and if he will make a statement.

Lucy Frazer: The Ministry of Justice is responsible for the legislative framework governing the regulation of legal services in England and Wales. However, the direct regulation of the legal profession is independent of Government.The Legal Services Act 2007 established that the regulation of the legal profession in England and Wales is to be undertaken by approved regulators, such as the General Council of the Bar, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and the Law Society of England & Wales, with the oversight of the Legal Services Board. The 2007 Act also requires that an approved regulator’s regulatory functions are exercised independently of its representative functions.There are also several other Acts of Parliament, such as Solicitors Act 1974 and the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 which provide these bodies with certain powers, duties and functions to effectively regulate the legal profession.

*No heading*

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many responses the Law Commission received from existing leaseholders to the consultation entitled, Leasehold home ownership: buying your freehold or extending your lease, published in September 2018.

Lucy Frazer: The Commission received over 1,100 responses to the consultation on enfranchisement reform.These responses are from a wide range of interested stakeholders including lawyers, surveyors, leaseholders, landlords, and representative groups.The Commission has not yet categorised the 1,100 consultation responses to enable them to identify how many responses are from leaseholders. The Commission’s initial estimate is that around three-quarters of responses are from leaseholders.  It is Law Commission policy to publish a full analysis of consultation responses for all its projects, so this information will be published in due course.

Courts: Closures

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the courts closures programme on the financial cost of travelling to court for (a) witnesses, (b) victims of crime and (c) court staff.

Lucy Frazer: The decision to close a court is never taken lightly. In the case of each court closure, we undertook a public consultation exercise and considered the responses we received very carefully. The Lord Chancellor has only agreed to close courts when satisfied that effective access to justice would be maintained.Allowances and travel expenses for victims of crime and prosecution witnesses are paid for by the Crown Prosecution Service.Staff who move their work location to an alternative court as part of the Estates Rationalisation Programme, and who incur extra travelling costs to do so, are supported financially by access to an Excess Fares Allowance in line with MOJ policy.

Debt Collection

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) certified enforcement and (b) high-court officers have lost their licence to enforce debts since April 2014.

Lucy Frazer: According to the data held by the Ministry of Justice, since April 2014, 337 individuals have had their certificate to act as a certificated enforcement agent cancelled by the county court. Reasons for cancelling a certificate include an agent leaving his or her employer, ceasing to work as an enforcement agent or by a judicial order following a judgement that they are not a fit and proper person to hold a certificate.Since 2014, no High Court Enforcement Officers have had their licence revoked as a result of a complaint.

Prisons: Mobile Phones

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many mobile phones have been seized in prison establishments in (a) 2015-6, (b) 2016-7 and (c) 2017-18.

Rory Stewart: The number of mobiles phones found in prison is published here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/annual-hm-prison-and-probation-service-digest-2017-to-2018Please refer to table 9.6, this covers data from 2016/2017. The number of mobile phones found in an incident was not specifically recorded prior to October 2015 when a new incident type was introduced.We are investing £70 million determined to tackle head-on the issues that undermine the safety and security of our prisons. We are taking decisive measures to find and block mobiles, including investing into detection equipment, including hand-held detectors and portable detection devices. These figures highlight the success of these measures, and the determination of prison staff to disrupt this behaviour. Any offender found using a mobile phone could face an extra two years behind bars.

Prisons: Water

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress his Department's Estates Directorate has made in analysing water usage and associated costs on the prison estate.

Rory Stewart: The Ministry of Justice undertook a review of water use, and associated costs, on the prison estate, in 2018. This has informed the development and application of good, typical and poor water efficiency benchmarks for prisons; and water reduction targets have now been set for all prisons. In addition, more detailed consumption data is being provided to prison Governors to facilitate improved water management at site level.In-depth audits of the ten highest water consuming prisons will be carried out in February 2019; and the Department has developed a Water Strategy which it intends to publish in Spring 2019.The Department is also re-procuring water services contract this year. This contract will provide for the installation of automatic meter reading (‘smart meters’) to enable improved monitoring and targeting of excessive water consumption.

Prisons

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on prisons.

Rory Stewart: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Prisons

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what preparations his Department has undertaken to minimise the potential effect on prisons of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Rory Stewart: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Full Sutton Prison

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to his Answer of 19 December 2018 to Question 201129 on Full Sutton Prison, what assurances he has sought that the Traffic Assessment for Full Sutton and the surrounding area was carried out at a representative time of the year in view of the fact that the East Riding is a tourist area; and if he will make a statement.

Rory Stewart: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Debt Collection

Chi Onwurah: What assessment he has made of the potential effect of independent regulation on the conduct of rogue bailiffs.

Lucy Frazer: We have launched a call for evidence on enforcement agents, which seeks views on the need for an independent regulator. The call for evidence closes on 17 February. We shall consider the need for further reform in the light of that evidence.

Treasury

Treasury: Trade Associations

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which his Department has responsibility are currently undertaken by trade associations; and if he will make a statement.

John Glen: The Treasury sets the legal framework for the regulation of financial services. The financial services industry is primarily regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), which are independent regulatory bodies, given statutory powers by the Financial Services and Markets Act (2000). Trade associations, namely bodies that represent businesses within a specific industry, do not carry out legislative regulatory functions for financial services.

Santander Group: Closures

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of Santander's proposal to close 140 branches in the UK on people's access to money.

John Glen: The Treasury has not made an assessment. The decision to close a branch is a commercial issue for the management team of the bank. However, Government believes it is important the impact on communities must be understood, considered and mitigated where possible. The Government supports the industry’s Access to Banking Standard which commits banks to ensure personal and business customers are better informed about branch closures and the reasons for them closing. It also helps customers to understand the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help. The Access to Banking Standard is monitored and enforced by the independent Lending Standards Board. Government also considers it important that all customers, wherever they live and especially those who are vulnerable, can still access over the counter services. That is why we support the Post Office’s Banking Framework Agreement, which enables 99% of banks’ personal and 95% of banks’ small business customers to withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make balance enquiries at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,500 branches. The Government is committed to ensuring that communities across the UK are fully aware of the important services that remain available to them at their local Post Office, even if their bank branch is closed. In response to my predecessor’s request, the Post Office and UK Finance have committed to work together to raise public awareness of the banking services available at the Post Office for individuals and SMEs.

Funerals: Pre-payment

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to publish its response to the consultation entitled Pre-paid funeral plans, launched in June 2018.

John Glen: HM Treasury has analysed the submissions to the call for evidence and is currently reviewing the available policy options. The response to the call for evidence will be published in due course.

VAT: Tax Thresholds

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the potential effect on the money accrued to the public purse of raising the maximum threshold for VAT by (a) 5 and (b) 10 per cent.

Mel Stride: Estimates of the revenue impact of raising the registration threshold for VAT are set out in the review ‘Value added tax: routes to simplification’ by the Office of Tax Simplification, available here (see page 8): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/657215/Value_added_tax_routes_to_simplification_print.pdf

Housing: Insulation

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money accrued to the public purse from VAT from insulating materials for home improvement in 2018-19.

Mel Stride: HM Revenue and Customs does not hold this information.HMRC does not collect this level of information on its VAT returns and does not have estimates of the VAT collected on the sale of insulating materials for home improvement.

VAT

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the amount of money accrued to the public purse from VAT in 2018-19; and what proportion of that amount will be payable to the European Union.

Mel Stride: The Office for Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) has forecast, in its Economic and Fiscal Outlook- October 2018, that the UK will collect £132.2 billion in revenue from VAT in 2018-19. The UK does not transfer VAT receipts to the EU, and so will not do so after withdrawal from the EU. Details on our payments to the EU can be found in the White Paper on ‘European Union Finances’ which is published annually and is available online.

Fuels: VAT

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money accrued to the public purse from VAT on (a) domestic and (b) other fuel in 2017-18.

Mel Stride: The details that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) collects from taxpayers on their VAT returns are not specific enough to enable the revenue arising from these supplies to be quantified precisely. HMRC does not require detail on particular products and customer types because it would place a considerable administrative burden on businesses. However, HMRC has estimated (using other data sources) that the cost to the Exchequer of the 5 per cent reduced rate of VAT on domestic fuel and power, compared to charging the standard rate, was £4.7 billion in 2017-18. This estimate is included in HMRC’s publication ‘Estimated costs of principal tax reliefs’ which may be found here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/774765/Jan19_Principal_Reliefs_Final.pdf

Treasury: Employment Tribunals Service

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times HMRC was taken to an employment tribunal for disability discrimination in 2017-18.

Mel Stride: During the period 2017-18, there were 40 instances of HMRC being taken to an employment tribunal for disability discrimination. Of these, 15 cases are still ongoing with the outcome of the remaining 25: Dismissed 3Settled 8Struck Out 3Withdrawn 9Won 2HMRC has welcomed Laura Whyte’s Respect at Work report and has accepted all its recommendations. We will with immediate effect review our policies, processes and standards to ensure we foster a positive working environment for everyone, and a culture that meets our values.

Gold and Foreign Exchange Reserves

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many countries have gold reserves deposited in the Bank of England.

Robert Jenrick: In a Quarterly Bulletin article in 2014 Q2, the Bank of England noted that it had 72 overseas customers with gold accounts. That number does not change significantly over time and the Bank of England has 70 countries as gold customers today.

Tax Allowances

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January to Question 213405, what the total value of tax reliefs recorded by HMRC was in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014, (f) 2015, (g) 2016, (h) 2017 and (i) 2018.

Mel Stride: HMRC publishes statistics relating to estimates of the cost of tax reliefs annually: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tax-relief-statistics However it is misleading to simply add up the cost of reliefs’ estimates in this table for various reasons:Each relief is costed separately, but in many cases simply adding up these individual costs would not give the true combined cost of the reliefs.These figures should be regarded as broad estimates as the loss of revenue from a tax relief cannot be directly observed and so the estimates are often based on simplified assumptions.One table lists reliefs for which there is insufficient data available on which to base any reasonable estimate. In some cases, the costs of reliefs cannot be reliably estimated because there is insufficient available information and the cost of collecting the necessary data or the burden imposed on taxpayers would be disproportionate.The figures do not allow for behavioural changes which could result from changes to the generosity of the reliefs. In practice, if a relief was withdrawn, taxpayer’s behaviour would often alter so the actual yield from withdrawing a relief could be very different from, and often much smaller than the estimate shown.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Brexit

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many staff of his Department are working wholly or predominantly on preparing for the UK to leave the EU.

James Brokenshire: We currently have 90 staff working in central teams within the Department who will be wholly or predominantly preparing for the UK to leave the EU. There will be other staff across the Department whose work will involve preparation or activity for the UK to leave the EU. We continue, as a priority, to review and plan the resources which will be required to ensure the Department is able to effectively manage its responsibilities and priorities for EU Exit and anticipate this resource will increase as the date of exit approaches. The level of resource deployed on EU exit will reflect the circumstances and final arrangements for the UK's exit from the EU.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Brexit

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many staff in each directorate of his Department have been moved from previous roles to work wholly or predominantly on preparing for the UK to leave the EU.

James Brokenshire: A number of central teams have been established within the Department to lead and manage the work required to prepare for the UK's exit from the EU. These teams have been built up in a phased and gradual manner to reflect the increase in work associated with our exit from the EU. Until recently approximately 60 staff were deployed to this work. We have however now redeployed a further 30 staff from their previous role to work on these central teams. Other staff from across the Department will have been redeployed within their Directorates to support or undertake work which will involve preparations for the UK's exit from the EU.

Homelessness: Leicester

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of homeless in Leicester in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (c) 2017 and (d) 2018.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: Concerning homelessness, latest data suggests that for the following financial years the numbers of households which had a main duty acceptance in Leicester are as follows:2014/151082015/161292016/171002017/1880National breakdowns are available here:Table 784: local authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Acts, financial years 2004-05 to 2017-18 (revised).There is a difference between those defined as homeless and those considered rough sleepers, statistics of which were released on 31 January 2019. Rough sleepers are those people sleeping, about to bed down, or actually bedded down in the open air (such as on the streets, in tents or in bus shelters) - as well as people in buildings or other places not designed for habitation.National street counts and intelligence driven estimates of people sleeping rough in England are conducted in autumn every year. All figures are independently verified by Homeless Link. The most recent data from the autumn 2018 annual street count and estimate returned a total figure of 4,677 rough sleepers, a decrease of 2 per cent from 2017.From 2015-2018 Leicester have reported the following as their number of rough sleepers:201522201636201731201831National breakdowns are available here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/775036/RS_STATS_2018_LiveTables.xlsx.This Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one should ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy which sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all. The Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period.

Help to Buy Scheme

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many leasehold (a) houses and (b) flats have been bought using the Help to Buy equity loan scheme  by region since 2013.

James Brokenshire: Up to 30 June 2018, of the 183,948 homes sold through the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme, 17,596 were recorded as leasehold houses and 27,771 were recorded as leasehold flats.Local authority level statistics are published in tables with the quarterly Help to Buy data which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/help-to-buy-equity-loan-scheme-statistics-april-2013-to-30-june-2018.

Homelessness: Social Security Benefits

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the correlation between changes in the level of social security funding and homelessness since 2010.

James Brokenshire: The Government has committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping, and to do so effectively, we need to build on our understanding of the causes, which we already know are complex and multi-faceted. For this reason, the Department for Work and Pensions, in conjunction with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, has commissioned research into the causes of homelessness and rough sleeping - including looking into the impact of welfare reform - so that we are able to develop a predictive model of homelessness and rough sleeping in the long term.

Private Rented Housing: Homelessness

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will collect data on the number of properties owned by private landlords who have received funding from local authorities to house people who are homeless.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: We have no plans to collect this information. It is for local authorities to decide how they work with landlords in their area. Additionally, we want to minimise the reporting burden on local authorities. Information is collected on the number of new private social housing lets made to applicants who are statutorily homeless in table 3f of the CORE summary tables accompanying the annual release. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/social-housing-lettings-in-england-april-2017-to-march-2018.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Trade Associations

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which his Department has responsibility are currently undertaken by trade associations; and if he will make a statement.

Jake Berry: We do not hold a central list of regulatory functions that are supported by trade associations.The Department’s governance statement and Accounting Office System Statements set out how we manage our corporate oversight of our arm's-length and other bodies which carry out our regulatory functions. Further details can be found as follows:Governance statement: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/727588/MHCLG_ARA_2017_18_WEB_Accessible.pdf.Accounting Officer System Statements: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/728081/Accounting_Officer_System_Statement_2018_-_Final.pdf.

Leasehold

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the timeframe is for the publication of the recommendations of the consultation entitled, Leasehold home ownership: buying your freehold or extending your lease, published by the Law Commission in September 2018.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The Law Commission's consultation entitled 'Leasehold home ownership: buying your freehold or extending your lease' closed on 7 January 2019. We are informed that the Commission has received numerous, and detailed, responses to the consultation which will require detailed analysis to inform the final report and recommendations. The expected date for the publication of the final report is Summer 2019. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government continue to discuss the timetable for the remainder of the project with the Law Commission.

Leasehold

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 September 2018 to Question 174628 on Leasehold, what the timeframe is for bringing forward the legislative proposals to tackle unfair leasehold practices for existing leaseholders.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: Following on from the 2017 consultation referred to in the answer of 9 October 2018, to Question UIN174628, the Department published a technical consultation on how to implement the Government’s reforms to the leasehold system in England on 15 October. This is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/implementing-reforms-to-the-leasehold-system . The consultation marked the next step in the Government’s commitment to tackle excessive and unjustifiable practices in the leasehold sector, making home ownership fairer for all. The consultation closed on 26 November, we will publish the Government response in due course and bring forward legislation when Parliamentary time allows.

Social Services: Children

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will meet with his Cabinet colleagues to discuss the potential merits of transferring responsibility for children's services to the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

James Brokenshire: Machinery of Government changes are a matter for the Prime Minister.

Letting Agents

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to review the practice of letting agencies requiring 12 months' rent in advance from clients who are below a specified minimum income threshold.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: Landlords and letting agents are free to ask for rent payments upfront if they wish, but very few ask for 12 months' rent upfront.The Government is determined to ensure that tenants’ rent money held by agents is protected. We will require letting agents to obtain membership of a Client Money Protection (CMP) scheme and to repay any client money without delay where it is due to the tenant. We intend this protection to be mandatory from 1 April 2019.We are also developing a new regulatory regime for letting agents. The Regulation of Property Agents working group, led by Lord Best, will make recommendations about a joined-up framework to guide, monitor and police the actions of letting agents. The working group will report in July 2019.

Homelessness: Finance

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to protect funding for tackling homelessness.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: This Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one should ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy which sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all. This Government’s manifesto committed to halving rough sleeping in this Parliament and to end it for good by 2027.The Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period including £617 million ring fenced funding via the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant, which local authorities can use strategically to tackle homelessness in their area.

High Rise Flats: Insulation

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2019 to Question 212669 on High Rise Flats: Insulation, if in addition to the information contained in the Building Safety Programme monthly data release he will publish the number of (a) social sector and (b) private sector tower blocks where ACM cladding has been entirely removed from the building but not yet replaced.

Kit Malthouse: The Department does not hold data on the number of high-rise residential buildings currently without cladding due to remediation works on their unsafe Aluminium Composite Material cladding systems.The Building Safety Programme publishes a monthly data release. As at 31 December 2018, there are 30 high-rise residential buildings in the private sector (private residential, student accommodation and hotels) where works have been completed, 18 where remediation works have started, and 126 with remediation plans in place. In the social sector, there are 37 high-rise residential buildings where remediation works have been completed, 81 where works have started, and 40 with remediation plans in place.

High Rise Flats: Insulation

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2019 to Question 210698 on High Rise Flats: Insulation, how many joint inspections on remedial works have taken place.

Kit Malthouse: The Health and Safety Executive, National Fire Chiefs Council and Local Authority Building Control are working together in consultation with the Local Government Association to coordinate a series of joint inspections on remedial works. We understand that this programme is designed to ensure that the regulation of workplace, public and fire safety risks from the remediation work are addressed holistically. The inspection programme is a matter for the organisations concerned. We do not hold information on how many of these joint inspections have taken place so far.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Recruitment

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost is to the public purse on outsourcing recruitment services in each of the last five years.

Mark Lancaster: The requested figures, by complete Financial Year (FY), are provided in the following table. FY2013-14FY2014-15FY2015-16FY2016-17FY2017-18£80,218,050£108,736,300£79,618,300£70,272,400£72,990,150 Notes:All figures are for actual expenditure and are rounded. Figures for the Naval Service component of this expenditure are available only from FY2015-16.

Army: Recruitment

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the pass rate was for each cohort of recruits to the army in each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The pass rate for recruits into the Army’s trained strength for the last five years is set out in the tables below. The definition of trained personnel was changed in October 2016 to reflect the ability for personnel who have completed basic training to be utilised in response to crises within the UK. Prior to this information was only held centrally by the Department in relation to recruits completing trade training. 2017-18 figures will include a significant number of personnel still progressing through either basic or trade training and therefore pass rates will continue to increase. In earlier years some individuals can take longer to proceed through the pipeline due to differing lengths of trade training and personal/medical reasons and are therefore shown as still in training. The Army also has an intake of recruits every year who have already passed elements of training during previous Service; as such, the below intake does not fully reflect the total intake into the Army each year. Table 1: Pass Rates for Regular Officers, FY 2013-14 to 2017-18 Year of IntakeUntrained IntakeCompleted Officer Cadet Training (Sandhurst)Completed Young Officer TrainingStill in TrainingPassesRatePassesRate2013-14510  48094%-2014-15470  42090%-2015-16520  47090%102016-17590  47079%602017-18 (to date)58034058%9016%210 (2017-18 figure refers to Officer Cadet Training).  Table 2: Pass Rates for Other Ranks, FY 2013-14 to 2017-18  Year of IntakeUntrained IntakeCompleted Basic Training Completed Trade TrainingStill in TrainingPassesRatePassesRate2013-146,250  4,71075%-2014-157,350  5,29072%102015-167,550  5,45072%502016-176,980  4,96071%3602017-18 (to date)5,9904,45074%2,16036%530 (2017-18 figure Refers to Basic training).Source: Defence Statistics(Army) Notes: The figures are for the Regular Army only and therefore exclude Gurkhas and Army Reserves. Professionally Qualified Officers have been excluded. Officer figures are those new to the Regular Army, and exclude Soldiers transfers. Personnel who have not yet passed training, but are still in the Army are included in the Still Untrained column. For 2017-18, Still Untrained refers to personnel who are still in Basic Training.

Ministry of Defence: Trade Associations

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which his Department has responsibility are currently undertaken by trade associations; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: Of the legislation for which the Ministry of Defence is responsible, none create regulatory functions performed by trade associations.

Clyde Naval Base: Radiation Exposure

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many checks for radioactive contamination are carried out on each person after they have left the reactor compartment tunnel at HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: All personnel exiting a reactor compartment are checked for contamination twice: once before removing protective clothing and once after. Contamination monitoring is not routinely required for personnel transiting the reactor compartment tunnel.

EU Defence Policy

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with NATO on the UK’s role in EU defence programmes after the UK leaves the EU.

Mark Lancaster: I regularly discuss the UK's leading role in European security with NATO counterparts. As NATO's leading European ally, the UK is clear that NATO forms the cornerstone of European defence and security. The Government intends to co-operate closely with the EU on defence and security as part of an ambitious security partnership; both on a case-by-case basis and when it is in our mutual interest. The UK has consistently called for any EU defence programmes and initiatives to be open to third parties and complementary with NATO.

Ministry of Defence: Brexit

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2019 to Question 207550 on Ministry of Defence: Brexit, how much of the £25 million allocated to his Department for Brexit preparations in 2018-19 and 2019-20 has been allocated to preparing for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Mark Lancaster: Her Majesty’s Treasury has allocated over £4.2 billion of additional funding to departments and the Devolved Administrations for EU exit preparations so far. This breaks down as: £412 million of additional funding over the spending review period for the Department for Exiting the European Union, Department for International Trade and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at Autumn Statement 2016. £286 million of additional funding for 2017-18 (a full breakdown of which can be found in Supplementary Estimates 2017-18: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/679738/PU2137_Supplementary_estimates_web.pdf) Over £1.5 billion of additional funding for 2018-19. A full breakdown of the allocations can be found in the Chief Secretary's Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS540, released on 13 March 2018: (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-03-13/HCWS540/)  Over £2 billion of additional funding for 2019-20. A full breakdown of the allocations can be found in the Chief Secretary's Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS1205, laid on 18 December 2018: (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-12-18/HCWS1205/) The Ministry of Defence (MOD) was allocated £12.7 million in 2018-19, for costs arising as the UK leave the EU in any situation. This allocation has allowed the MOD to retain three Off-Shore Patrol Vessels and support EU Exit preparedness for UK defence bases in Europe, for either EU Exit scenario. The final breakdown spend will be confirmed in the Supplementary Estimates 2018-19 which will be published at the end of the Financial Year. The MOD has also been allocated a total of £12 million in 2019-20 for either EU Exit scenario. The 2019-20 final breakdown spend will be confirmed in the Supplementary Estimates 2019-20 in early 2020.

Military Aircraft: Sales

Robert Courts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which of his Department's surplus aircraft, by aircraft type, were disposed of by sale or gifting since January 2013; and what the military registrations were of each those surplus aircraft so disposed.

Robert Courts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's disposal of surplus aircraft by sale or gifting since January 2013, which of those surplus aircraft so disposed were advertised as being for sale by competitive bid; and whether those surplus aircraft so advertised were procured by a preferred purchaser.

Robert Courts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's disposal of surplus aircraft by sale or gifting since January 2013, what the (a) average price paid by the buyer, (b) total cost of commissions paid to third-party agencies and (c) total revenue returned to the public purse was for each type of those surplus aircraft so disposed.

Stuart Andrew: Information on aircraft sales and gifting from December 2016 to December 2018 is provided in the tables below. Further information outside of these dates could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Additionally, I am also withholding information on prices, costs and revenues, as disclosure would prejudice commercial interests as well as relations between the United Kingdom and other states. Aircraft Sales: December 2016 – December 2018 Aircraft TypeTail NumberJet Provost T5AXW418Harrier GR3XZ994WessexXS520/ XP137MeteorWH132Wessex HC Mk2XR528Hawk TMk1XX292/ XX226/ XX290/ XX175Hunter T.8CWV396Jet Provost T5AXW420BulldogXX665Tornado GR4ZA549Meteor F. Mk. 8VZ568/7261MPuma HC Mk1XW208Chinook HC Mk1ZA717Typhoon T3ZJ800Hercules C1/C3XV200/ XV177Lynx HMA Mk8ZD566/ XZ722Lynx AH Mk9AZG884/ ZG886/ ZG916Wessex HU Mk5XT771/ XT761Sea King Mk4ZF116Lynx AH Mk9AZF539/ ZG887/ ZG888/ ZG914Harrier T8ZD990Sea Harrier FA2ZH807 The aircraft sales were made through a contractor under the marketing agreement held with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The MOD does not hold details of contractor marketing routes. Government to Government Aircraft Sales: December 2016 – December 2018 Aircraft TypeTail NumberSea King HelicoptersZH544/ ZH545/ ZA295/ ZA296/ ZA299/ ZF117/ ZG821Hercules Mk5XH880/ XH886/ XH881/ XH884 Aircraft Gifting Cases: December 2016 – December 2018 Aircraft TypeTail NumberSea King HAR Mk3XZ593Lynx AH Mk7ZD280Hawk TMk1XX308Jaguar GR1XX824Wessex HC Mk2XR529

Ministry of Defence: Employment Tribunals Service

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times his Department, excluding executive agencies and non-ministerial departments, was taken to an employment tribunal for disability discrimination in 2017-18.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018 the Department, excluding executive agencies and non-ministerial departments, was taken to an employment tribunal for disability discrimination four times.

Members: Correspondence

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Llanelli, of 11 December 2018, on civil marriages, civil partnerships and same-sex religious marriages for the armed forces.

Gavin Williamson: I will respond to the hon. Member shortly.

Defence Equipment: Auctions

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much equipment his Department has sold at auction in each year since 2010.

Stuart Andrew: The Defence Equipment Sales Authority disposes of defence equipment that is surplus to requirement, most of which is sold through a series of competitively awarded marketing agreements with specialist contractors. There are processes in place for the identification of sensitive items and these are used to select the appropriate specialist contractor. The subsequent final disposal route is a matter for the contractor and the Ministry of Defence does not therefore hold the requested information.

Armed Forces: Bullying

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to tackle homophobic bullying in the Armed Forces.

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to promote LGBT inclusion in the Armed Forces.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is increasingly challenging itself to become a more diverse and inclusive organisation. It recognises that recruitment and inclusion of individuals with diverse skills, perspectives and backgrounds will bring real strength to the organisation. The Defence Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2018 to 2030: A Force for Inclusion was issued by the Secretary of State for Defence in October 2018: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy-2018-to-2030-a-force-for-inclusion. This renewed strategy is focused on the delivery of a set of strategic goals and objectives that clearly set out what sort of organisation we want to be in the future: inclusive; appropriately representative of UK society; and a force for inclusion in wider society. Since the lifting of the ban on LGBT personnel serving in the military in the year 2000, the MOD has welcomed and supported all personnel, irrespective of sexual orientation, actively celebrating and supporting the diversity of all our personnel. Support is available including through LGBT champions, senior LGBT role models, active LGBT networks and over 150 personnel trained by Stonewall as LGBT allies. The single Services (and MOD civilians) took part in the 2018 Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, with all three Services being placed in the Top 100 Employers. In March 2018, for the second year running, the MOD flew the transgender flag to mark Transgender Day of Visibility. The MOD once again flew the rainbow flag from the top of our Main Building, as LGBT Service personnel marched alongside their civilian colleagues at London Pride 2018. All three Services have a zero-tolerance policy on bullying of all kinds, including homophobic bullying. All military personnel receive mandatory diversity and inclusion training on entry into service and every two years which both educates people on the reasons for positive behaviour, and the options for seeking help when poor behaviours are displayed. The Services have a robust policy for dealing with all bullying, Joint Service Publication 763, a copy of which can be found at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-763-the-mod-bullying-and-harassment-complaints-procedures. Equality and diversity advisors are also embedded within each unit, acting as the first point of call for any personnel subjected to bullying or harassment.

Saudi Arabia: Joint Exercises

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence,  pursuant to the Answer of 13 December 2018 to Question 200616 on Saudi Arabia: Joint Exercises, how many personnel will take part in the table-top planning exercise (Exercise DESERT SOLDIER) from 29 March-14 April 2019; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: Thirty-two personnel from the UK will take part in Ex DESERT SOLDIER, all from 3 SCOTS.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Overpayments

Hannah Bardell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit claims have been incorrectly calculated resulting in an overpayment.

Alok Sharma: Holding answer received on 18 December 2018



Our internal data from the last full financial year, 2017/18, shows that around 6%* of the individuals that were on Universal Credit at some point during the financial year 2017/18, were overpaid and were referred to Debt Management for the recovery of these overpayments. This figure includes fraud, claimant error and official error overpayments.  * The percentage figure has been calculated by dividing the number of Universal Credit claimants who were overpaid and referred to Debt Management for the recovery of an overpayment, by the number of individual claimants that were on Universal Credit at some point during the financial year 2017/18. Not all of the claimants would have been in payment.

Fairgrounds: Accidents

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many accidents have occurred at funfairs and amusement parks in each of the last three years.

Sarah Newton: The figures in the table below provide the number of reported injuries in Great Britain to (a) workers and (b) members of the public, notified to HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences 2013 (RIDDOR), where the industry activity recorded for the incident is ‘Activities of amusement parks and theme parks’.The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has a dedicated National Fairground Inspection Team (NFIT) which enforces health and safety law at fairgrounds and theme parks in Great Britain. NFIT inspectors are located throughout GB and respond to accidents and incidents in their local area. They can also call on support from a range of Specialist Inspectors if necessary. The team also targets proactive inspection of fairground rides with known problems and other areas of higher risk; for the coming year’s inspection plan, 19/20, inflatable devices are identified within it as an area of work. Online guidance freely available from HSE website has recently been revised and the content of this made known to industry dutyholders via their trade bodies. Local Authority colleagues who also have powers to inspect such devices have been made aware of this information also. YearMembers of the PublicWorkers2015/16446542016/17430562017/1836961The following points should be noted:Statistics are identified by Standard Industrial Classification 2007 (SIC 2007) class 9321 – Activities of amusement parks and theme parks.The term worker includes employees and self-employed persons combined.The details provided are for injuries reported under RIDDOR – a single accident may result in more than one injury and more than one report.RIDDOR data needs to be interpreted with care because it is known that injuries to members of the public at fairgrounds and theme parks tend to be over-reported in some parts of the industry and under-reported in others. HSE’s analysis of the data for injuries to members of the public at fairgrounds and theme parks in 2014/15 found that upwards of 75% of reported injuries did not meet the criteria for a RIDDOR reportable injury.

Universal Credit

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is the standard time is for a work coach to reply to a journal message.

Alok Sharma: The journal is primarily used to support work search activity and as such not every journal entry will require a response. The Case Manager or Work Coach receives a notification in real time each time a claimant submits an entry to their online journal. Journal entries are monitored daily as part of our case management approach.

Personal Independence Payment: Complaints

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints were received in relation to the personal independence payment assessment process in (a) 2017 and (b) 2018.

Sarah Newton: The total number of complaints received by Assessment Providers in relation to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments in (a) 2017 was 8,900 and in (b) 2018 was 9,400. Both of these figures equate to less than 1% of the total number of assessments carried out that year.

Universal Credit: Disability

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when employment and support allowance claimants in receipt of the severe disability premium will be able to migrate to universal credit without losing that additional entitlement.

Sarah Newton: I refer the honourable member to the answer the Minister for Employment gave on 30 January 2019 to Question 211077: https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-01-22/211077/

Department for Work and Pensions: Trade Associations

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which her Department has responsibility are currently undertaken by trade associations; and if she will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department for Work and Pensions has identified no arrangement in which a trade association has agreed to deliver regulatory functions created by legislation. However, whilst it is not a trade body, the Department for Work and Pensions has a contract with Citizens Advice Bureau.

Pension Credit: North West

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of pension credit claimants in (a) Warrington, (b) Warrington North constituency and (c) the North West who have a partner of working age and will be affected by forthcoming changes to the rules on pension credit.

Guy Opperman: Holding answer received on 04 February 2019



The changes the government announced on January 14 will ensure that the same work incentives will apply to the younger partner as apply to other people of the same age, and that taxpayer support is directed to where it is needed most. The changes will not affect mixed age couples who are entitled to Pension Credit and/or pension age Housing Benefit immediately before 15 May, unless their entitlement to both those benefits subsequently ends. The number of future mixed age couples that are estimated to be affected by forthcoming changes is not available.

Universal Credit

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking ensure that there is sufficient public awareness of the changes to universal credit entitlement for mixed-aged couples among people who are affected by that change.

Guy Opperman: Holding answer received on 04 February 2019



The Department announced on 14 January that the mixed age couple policy change will come into force on 15 May. Following the announcement we are implementing plans to raise awareness of the change among people who may be affected. The Department is writing to mixed-age couples who are already in receipt of Pension Credit or pensioner Housing Benefit. This is in addition to providing information on gov.uk and through existing departmental channels. The Department’s staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres will also be able to provide such information, as will staff in local authorities who administer Housing Benefit. The Department will also work with relevant organisations to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.

Universal Credit

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the date of completion is of the most recent equality impact assessment carried out on the changes to universal credit entitlement for mixed-aged couples.

Guy Opperman: Holding answer received on 04 February 2019



An Equality Impact Assessment for the introduction of Universal Credit was published on 9 November 2011. It contains an assessment of the effect of Universal Credit by age groups, including people aged over 50 and mixed age couples. In line with the DWP’s legal duties, equality impacts have been further considered in developing our plans for implementation.

Department for Work and Pensions: Members' Constituency Work

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what response time her Department has set for correspondence from Members of the Scottish Parliament on  constituent cases in relation to welfare matters.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department has the same target response times for correspondence from Members of the Scottish Parliament as it does for hon. Members of this House. The target response time for correspondence addressed to Ministers is 20 working days. The target response time for correspondence addressed to officials is 15 working days.

Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time was for her Department to provide an outcome to complaints from PRS landlords about universal credit full service tenants in the most recent 12-month for which figures are available.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department does not measure timings as described in the question (average time between receiving a complaint and providing an outcome) and to determine this request, we would need to examine each individual case, which would incur disproportionate costs. Complaints received from Private Rental Sector Landlords about Universal Credit full service are handled in line with the overall Departmental complaints process published on Gov.uk and aim to be resolved / responded to within 15 working days.

Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in the last year, what is the average time taken for the Independent Case Examiner to provide an outcome to escalated complaints from PRS landlords about universal credit full service tenants.

Justin Tomlinson: During 2018, the average time taken by the Independent Case Examiner’s (ICE) Office to conclude investigations into complaints from landlords concerning Universal Credit tenants was 29 weeks, from the point at which the investigation commenced. For reporting purposes the ICE Office do not distinguish between full and live service Universal Credit claimants.

Universal Credit

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the timeframe for the completion of the roll-out of universal credit.

Alok Sharma: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to Question 203793, on 7 January 2019.

Industrial Health and Safety: Farms

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps have been taken by the Health and Safety Executive to promote its guidance on safety on farms.

Sarah Newton: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has responsibility for the regulation of health and safety standards on Great Britain’s (GB) farms. All of HSE’s guidance on farm safety is available free of charge via the HSE website (http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/index.htm). Selected pieces of guidance, with links to the website, are shared widely via partner organisations such as the National Farmers Unions and the members of GB’s Farm Safety Partnerships, are given direct to farmers at HSE’s agricultural compliance events and are subject to wide publicity through a social media campaign linked to HSE’s current farm inspection activity.

Employment Support Allowance: Multiple Sclerosis

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with multiple sclerosis in receipt of employment support allowance are in the (a) support and (b) work-related activity group.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people with multiple sclerosis are in receipt of (a) income-related employment support allowance and (b) severe disability premium.

Sarah Newton: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Universal Credit: Multiple Sclerosis

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people with multiple sclerosis have lost the severe disability payment as a result of natural migration to universal credit.

Sarah Newton: Statistics on specific medical conditions are not currently available.

Child Maintenance Service: Correspondence

Angela Crawley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the expected response time from the Child Maintenance Service to enquiry from an hon. Member of 15 working days includes the quality assurance process.

Justin Tomlinson: When responding to members of parliament, as part of the DWP’s complaint process, we always aim to make a full response within 15 days. This is a target on which the department is measured and includes the response being quality assured. Where a full response cannot be made with in 15 days, we have agreed to contact the MP or the customer to let them know and to arrange / agree a date when the full response will be made. Again, any agreed date will include the response being quality assured. The 15 day timescale and the above process, is applicable to all departments of DWP and forms part of the tiered complaints process.

Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to reduce the time taken to respond to complaints from PRS landlords with universal credit full service tenants.

Justin Tomlinson: Complaints received from Private Rental Sector Landlords about Universal Credit full service are handled in line with the overall Departmental complaints process, published on Gov.uk and aim for the majority to be resolved / responded to within 15 working days.

Child Maintenance Service: Correspondence

Angela Crawley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timescale allocated by the Child Maintenance Service to the Quality Assurance team is for finalising and issuing responses to hon. Members.

Justin Tomlinson: The complaints process is not prescriptive as to when Quality Assurance should be completed. However all responses are quality assured during the 15 day timescale for response.

Access to Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December to Question 193360, how many of the 23,510 people who had an Access to Work Element approved in 2016-17 received no payment because the adjustments needed cost less than £1000.

Sarah Newton: As stated in the Answer of 31 January 2019 to Question 213164, we do not routinely collect data on the reasons why payments may not have been made.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

African Swine Fever

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which countries that export meat to the UK have experienced outbreaks of African swine flu.

George Eustice: The UK does not import pig meat from any countries outside of the European Union (EU) that are affected by African swine fever (ASF).   Countries that export pig meat to the UK do so in accordance with safeguard measures which ensure their exports carry a negligible risk of infection. Of those countries within the EU that export pig meat to the UK, only Poland and Romania have experienced outbreaks of ASF in their domestic pig herds in the last six months.   Measures to control and eradicate ASF are put in place immediately by any EU Member States where outbreaks are found. These measures include the establishment of restriction zones around infected premises and restrictions on the movement of pigs, pig products and anything likely to spread disease.   Wider regionalisation measures restrict the movement and trade of pigs and pig products from affected regions of EU Member States dependent on their risk status. Trade from these areas is subject to meeting strict conditions depending on their circumstances.

African Swine Fever

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has recently commissioned research into a cure for African swine flu; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice: Defra provides funding to the Pirbright Institute for research into African swine fever (ASF), including research into developing a safe and effective vaccine against ASF. At the present time there is no available cure or vaccine available for ASF.

Animal Welfare: EU Law

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to replicate the provisions of Article 13 of the Lisbon Treaty on animal sentience in UK law in the event that the UK leaves the EU.

David Rutley: The Government will ensure that any necessary changes required to UK law are made to ensure animal sentience is recognised after we leave the EU. In December 2017, the Government published the Draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill and ran a public consultation on the draft Bill. The House of Commons' Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee also undertook pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Bill and Defra responded to EFRA’s report in March 2018. In August 2018, Defra published a summary of responses to the public consultation and since then Defra has continued to engage closely with stakeholders to further refine the Government's proposals on sentience.

Food

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support his Department has provided to assist food and drink businesses with preparedness for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the preparedness of the food and drink industry for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on the food and drink industry.

David Rutley: Extensive work to prepare for a no-deal scenario has been under way for over two years and the Government is taking necessary steps to ensure the country continues to operate as smoothly as possible from the day the UK leaves the EU.   Alongside the publication of technical notices, the Government has significantly increased engagement with industry in recent months so that businesses better understand the steps they need to take in the event of a no deal.   The Government has well-established ways of working with the food industry on food supply chain issues and we are using these to support preparations for leaving the EU. This includes working with Defra’s long established Food Chain Emergency Liaison Group (FCELG), which allows Government and industry to work together to plan for and respond to any food supply disruption.   Defra regularly meets with trade associations and businesses covering the full spectrum of food and drink production, to explore the operational and technical aspects of EU withdrawal, as well as businesses’ individual concerns.   Defra will continue to work closely with food industry stakeholders to understand the impacts of a no deal scenario on the food and drink industry, as well as any contingency planning measures being taken by industry. Close collaboration between Government and industry will be essential to plan for, respond to, and mitigate any potential disruption.

Agricultural Products: Import Duties

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of lowering import tariffs on agricultural products on the domestic food and drink industry in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

David Rutley: In the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal, there would be a number of tools available to help mitigate adverse impacts for the food and drink industry, as well as for consumers and producers. These tools could include lowering applied tariffs on certain goods, alongside tariff rate suspensions and opening up autonomous tariff rate quotas. Different combinations of these tools would have different impacts on the food and drink industry, as would different degrees of tariff reduction. In addition, the competitiveness of the domestic industry is heavily affected by a number of other factors, including commodity prices, exchange rates and oil prices. These drivers will continue to apply when we leave the EU, regardless of tariff rates.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Trade Associations

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which his Department has responsibility are currently undertaken by trade associations; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice: The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.

Furs: Farms

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations his Department has made to foreign Governments on ending the practice of fur farming.

David Rutley: Fur farming has been banned in the UK since 2000 making it clear to other countries that that this practice is not consistent with British values on animal welfare. Once the UK retakes its independent seat on international bodies, such as the World Organisation for Animal Health, we will have an opportunity to promote progressive views on animal welfare and to support improved animal welfare standards internationally.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many herds in (a) Area 01, Gloucestershire and (b) Area 02, West Somerset badger control areas were tested with interferon gamma in each year since 2010.

George Eustice: The number of holdings in a) Area 01, Gloucestershire and b) Area 02, West Somerset that were subject to interferon gamma testing is set out below. This includes the number of samples that were positive. In this instance, ‘herd’ has been interpreted to mean ‘holding (County Parish Holding - CPH)’. Our policy of applying the interferon gamma test in TB affected herds in badger control areas was introduced in April 2017. The data you requested, from that date, is: GloucestershireSomerset excluding North20174920182314

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many interferon gamma tests were conducted on herds in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) Somerset in each year since 2010; and how many cattle in each of those herds tested positive.

George Eustice: In this instance, ‘herd’ has been interpreted to mean ‘holding’ (County Parish Holding - CPH)’.The number of holdings in Gloucestershire and Somerset that were subject to interferon gamma testing is set out below. This includes the number of samples that were positive.Gloucestershire (Excl South)Avon (North Somerset & S Glouc)Somerset (excl North) Samples testedSamples PositiveSamples testedSamples PositiveSamples testedSamples PositiveYear  20100061119002011001500020121641427131520136233651824355201460511742912661120154335778359117520160013671511246762017584581753115901092018783033314021146781535

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many herds in Area 03, Dorset (03) badger control areas were tested with interferon gamma in each year since 2012.

George Eustice: The number of holdings in Area 03, Dorset that were subject to interferon gamma testing is set out below. This includes the number of samples that were positive. In this instance, ‘herd’ has been interpreted to mean ‘holding (County Parish Holding - CPH)’. Our policy of applying the interferon gamma test in TB affected herds in badger control areas was introduced in April 2017. The data you requested, from that date, is: Dorset201712201825

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many interferon gamma tests were conducted in each herd in Dorset in each year since 2012; how many positive cattle in each herd tested positive.

George Eustice: The number of County Parish Holdings (CPH) in Dorset that have been subject to interferon gamma testing since 2012 is set out below. This includes the number of samples that were positive.   YearIndividual CPHsSamples testedSamples Positive2012 – 2 CPHs tested in total 113921 266192013 – 3 CPHs tested in total 11454 22534 34142014 – 1 CPH tested in total20141461120150  20160  2017 – 15 CPHs tested in total 136033 215913 384436 4970120 540036 653224 72375 832050 963456 1041514 1144239 1233283 1391 14380 1521772018 – 31 CPHs tested in total 1534 2453 3431 439537 520513 63869 7127976 8115554 9875 1080487 1158632 1218411 131240 143202 1534828 162172 17350 1880548 1933020 2063657 214284186 2230523 23151368 2417110 2530512 2621719 2735652 2814411 2937112 3051722 31187197

Farms: Productivity

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the dry weather in summer 2018 on farm productivity levels.

George Eustice: The dry weather conditions last summer created challenges for many of our farmers, in terms of lower yields in the arable sector and a shortage of fodder for livestock farmers. The government took steps at the time to introduce a number of flexibilities under the Common Agricultural Policy’s Ecological Focus Areas, as well as Countryside Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship and woodland grant schemes to assist farmers and foresters struggling with the impacts of the dry weather.  Met Office data shows that November and December 2018 were notably milder than the long-term average allowing livestock farmers to be able to consider keeping their animals turned out to graze for longer. However, we are continuing to monitor the situation closely. The first results for the UK’s Total Factor Productivity in agriculture during 2018 will be published in May. Total Factor Productivity statistics are published on gov.uk and can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/total-factor-productivity-of-the-agricultural-industry.

Poultry Meat

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on (a) the poultry meat sector and (b) the cost of British poultry meat products in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

David Rutley: It is in everyone’s interests to secure a good deal with the EU and that is exactly what we are committed to doing. The Government recognises the concerns of stakeholders and is determined to get the best deal for the UK in our negotiations on leaving the EU, including for our world-leading poultry sector.   Whilst preparing for all outcomes, as any responsible Government would, we are also preparing for the possibility of ‘no deal’. Extensive work to prepare for a ‘no deal’ scenario is under way to ensure the country continues to operate as smoothly as possible from the day we leave.   We are in close contact with the poultry sector to understand and anticipate the effects on the sector of the UK leaving the EU without a deal. Significant work is already underway to ensure that UK exporters can maintain access to EU markets after March 2019. We are conducting rigorous analysis of the full range of UK-EU trade scenarios on UK agriculture (including the poultry sector) as part of our planning.

Poultry Meat

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the provision of non-UK labour to staff the poultry meat industry after the UK leaves the EU.

David Rutley: Whilst the UK prepares to leave the EU, Defra is working closely with the Home Office to ensure that there is a long term strategy for the food and farming workforce, including the poultry industry, as part of the future immigration policy. The Immigration White Paper, published by the Home Office on 19 December 2018, sets out the foundation for a single skills based immigration system.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many herds have been subject to interferon gamma testing in each of the (a) low, (b) edge and (c) high-risk bovine tuberculosis control areas in 2018.

George Eustice: In response to the question, ‘herd’ has been interpreted to mean ‘holding (County Parish Holding - CPH)’. The number of holdings in England subject to interferon gamma testing is set out below. TB Risk AreaLowEdgeHighNumber of holdings (CPH) to which IFN-γ test applied44250368

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many herds have been subject to interferon gamma testing in each of the (a) low, (b) edge and (c) high-risk bovine tuberculosis control areas in 2018.

George Eustice: In response to the question, ‘herd’ has been interpreted to mean ‘holding (County Parish Holding - CPH)’. The number of holdings in England subject to interferon gamma testing is set out below. TB Risk AreaLowEdgeHighNumber of holdings (CPH) to which IFN-γ test applied44250368

Air Pollution

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce emissions of particulate matters less than 2.5 µm in diameter.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Defra published a Clean Air Strategy in January, which set out our plans to reduce emissions of particles under 2.5 µm in diameter, known as fine particulate matter (PM2.5).   The 2016 emissions inventory indicates that 38% of PM2.5 emissions come from domestic combustion, and 12% come from industrial sources. Therefore, we have developed policies to tackle these sectors, including phasing out the sale of wet wood and traditional, smoky house coal, only allowing the cleanest fuels for sale. We will also phase out the dirtiest stoves, only allowing the cleanest stoves which meet the Ecodesign standard. We are also working with industry to develop industrial roadmaps to drive long-term improvement in this sector.   We will be publishing our National Air Pollution Control Programme by the end of March 2019, which will set out our analysis for these policies in greater detail.

Air Pollution

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to monitor levels of particulate dust (a) PM10 and (b) PM2.5 (i) throughout the country and (ii) in Southampton.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The national air quality monitoring network, run by the Environment Agency, includes 80 PM10 and 78 PM2.5 monitors. Two of these monitors are located in Southampton, both monitor PM2.5 and one monitors PM10.

Meat: Exports

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural affairs, whether promoting the export of meat from non-stunned animals (a) requires a specific derogation and (b) must clearly state that it is only for consumption by religious communities.

David Rutley: Domestic legislation enables religious slaughter to be undertaken here by Muslims and Jews for the consumption by Muslims and Jews. Neither European nor domestic legislation requires specific additional approvals to be granted, or derogations to be secured, in respect of the export of meat from non-stunned animals. There are no domestic or European Regulations that require the labelling of Halal or Kosher meat, but where any information of this nature is provided, it must be accurate and must not be misleading to the consumer.

Tyres: Waste Disposal

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to monitor compliance with U2 environmental exemption licences to ensure that used tyres intended  construction are not exported abroad for waste.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Waste activities are regulated and require permits to operate which the Environment Agency issues and enforces. Some waste activities that are low risk do not require permits and are regulated by the Environment Agency under waste exemptions, which an operator registers for free online. A U2 exemption allows an operator to use a small number of end-of-life tyre bales in construction projects without the need for a permit and is not related to exports. The Environment Agency takes a risk based approach to enforcement and will investigate a site where it receives intelligence that indicates illegal activity. It has no evidence to suggest tyre bales stored on a U2 registered site ready for use in a construction project are being diverted for export.

Tyres: Waste Disposal

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of the number of UK tyres exported to pyrolysis plants in (a) Africa and (b) India in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Waste tyres can be exported under two procedures.   Under Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 on the shipments of waste, most exports of non-hazardous waste destined for recovery in non-Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries are subject to ‘green list’ controls unless more stringent controls are required by an importing country. Green list controls do not require approval from the UK regulators prior to shipment. As a result, Defra does not hold data on the number of tyres exported from the UK for recovery in pyrolysis plants in Africa or India.   Data on exports of waste materials is published by HM Revenue and Customs and is available at: www.uktradeinfo.com.   Additionally, the UK regulators collect data on the export of wastes that are subject to the process of prior written notification and consent. Waste tyres will be exported under these controls where they are hazardous or destined for disposal. The Environment Agency has not agreed any notifications to export waste tyres under these controls in the last three years.

Chemicals: Registration

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2018 to Question 201663, what further detail has been provided by the ECHA on the intended mechanism by which UK companies can transfer their registrations to EU based entities in order to maintain uninterrupted EU market access.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: On 1 February the ECHA announced that it would publish a communications package in the week beginning 4 February to help all companies placing chemical substances on the EU market to prepare for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. It said that the package will include new question and answer material and step-by-step instructions for using the ‘Brexit window’ for UK-based companies to transfer their REACH registrations.

Tyres: Recylcing and Waste Disposal

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many tonnes of used tyres are (a) recycled or reused, (b) disposed of in the UK and (c) exported.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Used Tyre Working Group, comprising industry and Government used tyre interests, compiles annual statistics. Their latest figures cover 2017. They estimate that there were 550,000 tonnes of used tyre arisings of which 535,000 tonnes is accounted for as set out in the table below: Outcome summary%TonnesReuse8.243,696Recycling50.1268,266Recovery15.181,066Export26.6142,098

Home Office

Counter-terrorism: Finance

Ruth Smeeth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria his Department uses for the allocation of funding under the Prevent programme.

Mr Ben Wallace: Prevent funding is prioritised based on threat and risk across the country where we assess the risk of radicalisation to be highest.A number of factors, including local and national intelligence / information, the number of TACT arrests and disrupted plots, as well as Channel referral data, are used to help determine the locations where the threat from terrorism and radicalisation is greatest.Each priority area receives funding for a dedicated Prevent Coordinator and for civil society organisations to deliver campaigns and activity that counter terrorist narratives and build resilience in communities against radicalisation. We do not provide detailed information about the funding allocation of local Prevent projects by area.

Counter-terrorism

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the causes of radicalisation of lone-actors in relation to extreme right-wing terrorism in the UK.

Mr Ben Wallace: There is no single pathway to radicalisation for Islamist inspired, far-right, or any other form of terrorism, and our radicalisation model applies to all forms of terrorism.People become radicalised when background factors, together with radicalising influences combine during a period in a person’s life where there is an ideological opening and, crucially, where there is a lack of protective factors.

Action Fraud

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of reports to Action Fraud are referred to a (a) local police force and (b) Regional Organised Crime Unit.

Mr Ben Wallace: In the period up to March 2018 Action Fraud recorded 277,561 crimes (Source: ONS – April 17 to March 18). The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), which analyses crimes recorded by Action Fraud, cannot directly task Regional Organised Crime Units.In light of which crimes are allocated to forces as per the rules set out in the Home Office Counting Rules. In the same period (April 17 to March 18) the NFIB disseminated 53,574 crimes to Police forces (a), a further 120 crimes were sent direct to Regional Organised Crime Units as a result of the NFIB being aware of an ongoing investigation which was being undertaken by them.A considerable number of the crimes will have been perpetrated by the same criminal group.

Offences against Children: Organised Crime

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate he has made of the number of victims of child sexual exploitation by organised groups in each of the last five years.

Victoria Atkins: We are working to build the national picture of the nature and scale of child sexual exploitation by organised groups. Child sexual abuse and exploitation are under-reported crimes, which means it is challenging to develop accurate assessment of the number of victims. However, best estimations in-dicate that approximately 5-15% of children have experienced child sexual abuse in their lifetime.We have introduced new requirements for the police to record information re-lating to these offences which, along with the establishment of a new na-tional Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, will help us to build a more informed picture of the scale of these crimes and the best ways to tackle and prevent them in the future.

Motorcycles: Greater Manchester

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reports of anti-social behaviour were made in relation to mopeds in (a) Salford and Eccles constituency and (b) Greater Manchester in each of the last three years.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office collects data on the number of anti-social behaviour incidents recorded by the police forces in England and Wales. From this information it is not possible to identify how many of such incidents related to mopeds.Anti-social behaviour incidents recorded by the police are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and can be found here:https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/crimeinenglandandwalesotherrelatedtables/yearendingjune2018/otherrelateddatatables.yearendingjune2018v2.xlsx

Police: Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has plans to increase the number of police officers after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Nick Hurd: We reviewed the changing and increasingly complex demands on the police. We are proposing a funding settlement that will provide total funding of up to £14 billion for 2019-20 in England and Wales, an increase of up to £970m compared to 2018/19, including precept, pensions funding and national investment. Funding for the police in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter.It is for Chief Constables in conjunction with their Police and Crime Commis-sioners as part of their forward planning to determine the amount of police officers they will require to help them deal with any emerging pressures.The Government is already supporting the police sector to respond to pres-sures arising from the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. We have provided £2.4 million to the National Chiefs’ Police Council and have also paid £845k to Kent Police for their European Union Exit planning.We are engaging closely with the police sector in relation to planning and funding pressures in relation to the United Kingdom leaving the European Union.

Antisocial Behaviour: Young People

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to combat youth antisocial behaviour.

Victoria Atkins: The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police and local authorities with a range of flexible powers that they can use to tackle and prevent anti-social behaviour, including to combat anti-social behaviour by young people. To support local agencies decide when and how to use these powers, the Home Office refreshed its statutory guidance for frontline practitioners on the use of the statutory powers in December 2017.

Undocumented Migrants: Prosecutions

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been prosecuted in relation to illegal immigration in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (c) 2017 and (d) 2018.

Caroline Nokes: Information on defendants proceeded against for offences under Immigration Acts 1971 to 2009 in England and Wales is available in table pr_01 within the detention tables in the latest release of ‘Immigration Statistics, year ending September 2018’, available from the Home Office website at:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/758249/detention-sep-2018-tables.ods.Information for 2018 will be available in August 2019.

Durham Constabulary: Finance

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will provide additional funding to Durham Constabulary to reverse the central funding reduction since 2010.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he is taking steps to use Durham Constabulary as an example of best practice to improve national policing services.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Government’s proposed funding settlement for the police for 2019/20 provides additional funding of up to £970 million, including additional Government grant funding, council tax precept and investment in national priorities. This substantial increase will enable forces to meet their genuine financial pressures as well as to invest in key capabilities. The Durham Police and Crime Commissioner will receive a cash funding increase of £7.5m in 2019-20 if he uses the full council tax flexibility. The Home Secretary has been clear that police funding will be a priority for the next spending review.Through the reforms introduced by this Government, the system architecture is in place to allow all forces to benefit from learning and innovation across the sector. The College of Policing, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of the Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and the Independent Office for Police Conduct are collectively engaged in promoting and monitoring best practice and continuous improvement in policing, to ensure public confidence.

National Emergency Services Memorial: Finance

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will make a financial donation to the National Emergency Services Memorial.

Mr Nick Hurd: This Government could not be clearer about the value we place on the role of police officers in cutting crime and keeping our local communities safe. We owe our brave emergency service workers a debt of gratitude for the courage, commitment and dedication they demonstrate in carrying out their duties.The Home Office fully supports the campaign to fundraise for the National Emergency Services Memorial. The Home Office does not currently plan to make a financial donation to the National Emergency Services Memorial.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department plans to take to directly contact elderly citizens to inform them that they must make online Biometric applications for settled status.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the funding for advertising the settled status scheme was spent on online advertising in the latest period for which figures are available.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that (a) elderly people and (b) disabled people are able to apply for settled status if they do not have access to a computer or smartphone.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements his Department has made to ensure that elderly people required to apply for settled status who cannot use a computer and do not live near a Home Office centre can make an application.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements his Department has made to support elderly people who do not possess (a) a biometric passport, (b) a biometric driving licence or (c) another form of biometric identification to make an application for settled status.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office is putting in place measures to ensure that the EU Settlement Scheme is streamlined, user-friendly and accessible to all prospective applicants. That is why we are working in partnership with vulnerable group representatives, local authorities and other experts to make sure we reach everyone.Since November 2017, we have held monthly meetings with representatives of EU citizens on the design and development of the scheme and communications plans. We have been working closely with these groups to identify the needs of potentially vulnerable applicants including the disabled, elderly and isolated. There will be a broad range of support in place; for those who need non-specialist support there is the assisted digital service for technological support, and the Settlement Resolution Centre which will be able to assist with questions relating to the application process.When the scheme fully opens by 30 March, there will be further routes available to have identity documents checked. This includes posting passports or ID cards to the Home Office to be checked and returned, and there will be over 50 locations all over the country where applicants can have their document scanned.The Home Office is committed to supporting vulnerable EU citizens to obtain UK immigration status and we will continue to engage with representative groups to ensure the needs of vulnerable citizens are taken into account.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he will ensure that elderly people residing in the UK without UK citizenship are provided with information on the need to apply for settled status.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office is putting in place measures to ensure that the EU Settlement Scheme is streamlined, user-friendly and accessible to all prospective applicants. That is why we are working in partnership with vulnerable group representatives, local authorities and other experts to make sure we reach everyone.Since November 2017, we have held monthly meetings with representatives of EU citizens on the design and development of the scheme and communications plans. We have been working closely with these groups to identify the needs of potentially vulnerable applicants including the disabled, elderly and isolated. There will be a broad range of support in place; for those who need non-specialist support there is the assisted digital service for technological support, and the Settlement Resolution Centre which will be able to assist with questions relating to the application process.When the scheme fully opens by 30 March, there will be further routes available to have identity documents checked. This includes posting passports or ID cards to the Home Office to be checked and returned, and there will be over 50 locations all over the country where applicants can have their document scanned.The Home Office is committed to supporting vulnerable EU citizens to obtain UK immigration status and we will continue to engage with representative groups to ensure the needs of vulnerable citizens are taken into account

Immigration: EU Nationals

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions the Government has had with his EU27 countries on whether they will directly contact their citizens residing in the UK to encourage them to apply for settled status.

Caroline Nokes: I have met many ambassadors from EU Member States to discuss citizens’ rights and the EU Settlement Scheme, and requested they share information about the Scheme with their citizens in the UK and encourage them to apply.Home Office officials also hold monthly meetings with representatives of the EU27 about the EU Settlement Scheme to discuss the design and development of the Scheme. The meetings have included discussions about communications, and materials which EU27 consulates and embassies might find useful to help inform their citizens.Home Office officials have also taken part in many events hosted by EU27 consulates and embassies aimed at informing their citizens about the Scheme and sources of information.

Immigration: EU Nationals

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Irish citizens born in Northern Ireland will meet the criteria for the EU Settlement Scheme should they choose to apply.

Caroline Nokes: Irish citizens resident in the UK who do not hold British citizenship will be eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme if they choose. However, they do not need to do so as under the reciprocal Common Travel Area arrangements with Ireland, Irish citizens have a status in the UK separate from EU free movement rights that allows them to live, work, study and access benefits and services without being subject to a requirement to obtain leave to enter or remain in the UK.

Action Fraud

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many investigations resulting from information being passed to the police by Action Fraud have taken place in each year since 2013.

Mr Ben Wallace: Action Fraud reports are passed on to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), who are responsible for reviewing and allocating offences to forces for investigation.The Home Office collects information on the number of fraud cases disseminated by the NFIB to police forces and also the number of fraud outcomes recorded by the police. These data are published annually as part of the Home Office’s ‘Crime Outcomes in England and Wales’ publication. The latest data can be found here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/740625/prc-fraud-open-data-march2018-tables.ods.In order to improve our understanding of how forces are responding to fraud, we, last year, asked HMIC to inspect forces. We will study the report when it is published.

Immigration: Public Consultation

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the White Paper entitled The UK's future skills-based immigration system, published in December 2018, Cm 9722, published on 19 December 2018, what plans are in place for conversations with people and businesses over the next twelve months; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: Publishing the White Paper is the start of a new conversation on immigration. We are launching an extensive year long programme of engagement with a wide range of stakeholders across the UK, including the private, public and voluntary sector, employers and businesses, as well as the EU and international partners. We are also launching a number of new advisory groups and expand on existing forums, consisting of business and employer representatives, to help inform the detailed design of the future immigration system.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has for the introduction of an appeal process to the EU Settled Status scheme.

Caroline Nokes: If the Withdrawal Agreement is agreed the Government will implement that agreement, including appeal rights, through the Withdrawal Agreement Bill.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when EU citizens living in the UK who have paid the £65 settled status fee will receive their refund.

Caroline Nokes: As the Prime Minister announced on 21 January, there will be no fee for applications under the EU Settlement Scheme when we roll out the scheme in full by 30 March. Anyone who has applied during the pilot phase, or who does so, will have their fee reimbursed. The Home Office will set out further details in due course.

Asylum: Lanark and Hamilton East

Angela Crawley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum cases his Department has identified as complex in Lanark and Hamilton East constituency in the last 12 months.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office does not publish data relating to the number of asylum cases identified as complex (non-straightforward) in Lanark and Hamilton East constituency in the last 12 monthsFurthermore, whilst we can provide data on the current addresses of asylum claimants, data on the place of residence and whether or not their case is identified as non-straightforward can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.However, data on the number of non-straightforward cases awaiting an initial asylum decision can be found in tabs labelled ASY_10 and ASY_11 in the Asylum Transparency Data contained in the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-november-2018

Migrant Workers: EU Nationals

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the future immigration system will allow temporary short-term workers on a 12-month visa from EU member states to access (a) primary care and to register with a GP, (b) NHS secondary care services; and whether those workers will be obliged to pay the health surcharge; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: Migrants coming to the UK for more than six months (other than, currently, EEA migrants) are required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge which gives them access to the full range of NHS services, with the exception of assisted conception services. We are considering whether these arrangements should apply to those coming under the proposed transitional temporary work route and will want to engage with businesses and employers on this point.The Department of Health and Social Care is currently undertaking negotiations on the future of reciprocal healthcare agreements with EU member states following the UK’s exit from the EU.

Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority: Finance

Gareth Snell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the additional funding required by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority to fulfil its role under the new Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme pilot; and whether such additional funding will be provided.

Caroline Nokes: I refer the Honourable Member to the response that I gave to a question from the Honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton on 17 December 2018 (201233).

Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme

Gareth Snell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether workers coming to the UK under the forthcoming Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme pilot will be provided with pre-departure information on UK labour laws before arrival in the UK.

Caroline Nokes: The Seasonal Workers Pilot will be managed by two licenced scheme operators. These licencing arrangements place a clear responsibility on the scheme operators to ensure the well-being of participating migrant workers, including ensuring that their employment rights are protected.

Iran: Visas

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Iranian citizens able to apply for visas to visit the UK at the Visas and Immigration Centre in Tehran.

Caroline Nokes: Yes, Iranian citizens are able to apply for visas to visit the UK at the Visas Application Centre in Tehran.

Knives: Crime

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with Chief Constables on increasing the authority of forces to implement stop and search where there is a recently proven spike in knife crime.

Mr Nick Hurd: Stop and search is a vital policing tool when used correctly and officers have the Government's full support to use these powers in a way that is fair, lawful and effective.The Home Secretary has been clear that he wants officers to feel confident, trusted and supported when they are using stop and search powers, which form one part of our broader strategy to tackle violence.We are therefore looking at ways to reduce bureaucracy and increase efficiency in the use of this power to ensure the police feel better able to use these powers where they have reasonable grounds to do so.Both the Home Secretary and I engage with the Chief Constables on a regular basis to discuss matters of concern, including the use of stop and search and recent incidents of knife crime, especially in London.

Home Office: Written Questions

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to answer Question 208260 tabled on 14 January 2019 on Deportation: Windrush Generation.

Caroline Nokes: The response for UIN 208260 was given on 1 February 2019.

Radicalism: Crime and Terrorism

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department has taken to estimate the number of far-right linked terrorist actions and crimes in the last five years.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Home Office publishes relevant statistics on a quarterly basis, including information on arrests and convictions for terrorism offenses, titled Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000. The ideology of individuals is recorded only once they are in prison, not at the time of their arrest. You will be able to access a copy of this report online:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/operation-of-police-powers-under-the-terrorism-act-2000-quarterly-update-to-september-2018

Department for International Development

Pakistan: Ethnic Groups

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations his Department has made to the Government of Pakistan on removing derogatory references to (a) Ahmadis and (b) other minorities from the education curricula in that country.

Alistair Burt: HMG regularly raises freedom of religious belief issues at the highest levels with Pakistan government counterparts. In January, I met the Hon Shafqat Mahmood, Pakistan Federal Minister for Education, and his provincial counterparts. The agenda for this meeting included ending discrimination and improving the inclusion of all children in Pakistan through education.

Developing Countries: Abortion

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her Department’s policy is on funding organisations that provide abortions that have (a) been found guilty of breaking the law and (b) ineffective procedures for addressing sexual misconduct.

Alistair Burt: The Department for International Development is clear that we will not fund illegal activities. We take issues of sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment extremely seriously and demand the highest standards from all organisations the department works with. We have put in place new, enhanced and specific safeguarding standards and new funding will not be approved unless our partners meet these tough standards. When organisations uncover issues, we must not penalise them for being transparent, but support effective due process in the handling of such allegations.

Waste: Exports

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in (a) India and (c) Africa on UK waste exports to those countries; and what assessment her Department has made of the health and environmental effects of the methods used to dispose of or process such waste.

Harriett Baldwin: I have had no recent discussions with counterparts in India or Africa on UK waste exports to those countries and my Department has made no assessment of the health and environmental effects of the methods used to dispose of or process such waste.   The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for international engagement on waste exports.   The Department for International Development is supporting better management of waste produced domestically within India and some African countries. This is through our £13 million programme on Tackling Waste and Plastic Pollution, through the UK’s £250 million of support to the current replenishment of the Global Environment Facility, and through support to other multilaterals assisting countries with waste management, such as the World Bank’s National Ganga River Basin Project in India.

Scotland Office

Scotland Office: Trade Associations

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which his Department has responsibility are currently undertaken by trade associations; and if he will make a statement.

David Mundell: The Office for the Secretary of State for Scotland does not have any functions imposed by legislation which are being undertaken by trade associations.

Scotland Office: Brexit

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2019 to Question 207564 on Scotland Office: Brexit, for what reason his Department holds no estimate of what it has spent on no deal preparations, which cannot readily be separated from other EU exit and devolution functions in general.

David Mundell: As part of preparations for a successful EU exit, the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland has been allocated additional EU exit funding. OSSS officials are working across a range of areas (including but not limited to no deal preparations), in their EU exit work. As no deal preparations form part of the broader EU exit work of the department, it is not possible to separate how much has been spent only on no deal preparations.

Fuel Poverty: Scotland

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on tackling fuel poverty in Scotland.

David Mundell: Fuel poverty policy is devolved and is therefore a matter for the Scottish Government. I have regular discussions with Scottish Government ministers on a range of issues, and recognise the importance of this issue, in particular for those who have difficulty in paying for essential energy costs.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Department for Exiting the European Union: Travel

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what sums his Department spent on (a) taxis, (b) first-class train tickets and (c) business-class air travel in each of the last three years.

Kwasi Kwarteng: We are working hard to make our departure from the EU a success. Clearly this involves some travel for those staff engaged in negotiations, occasionally at short notice. All of the costs identified fall within our operating budget.The Department has spent the following amounts on: (a) taxis, (b) first-class train tickets and (c) business-class air travel in each of the last three years. Financial Year 15/16There are no costs associated as this period falls before the inception of the Department. Financial Year 16/17Taxis - £5,114.68First-class train tickets - £753.50Business-class air travel - £9,384.80 Total: £15,252.98 Financial Year 17/18Taxis - £17,561.00First-class train tickets - £5,276.90 (includes refunds)Business-class air travel - £85,295.23 (includes refunds) Total: £108,133.13

Department for Exiting the European Union: Travel

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many (a) business class, (b) economy class and (c) first class tickets for air travel his Department has purchased in each of the past three years.

Kwasi Kwarteng: We are working hard to make our departure from the EU a success. Clearly this involves some travel for those staff engaged in negotiations, occasionally at short notice.The department has purchased the following number of tickets for (a) business class, (b) economy class and (c) first-class in each of the past three years. Financial Year 15/16There are no costs associated as this period falls before the inception of the Department. Financial Year 16/17Economy Class - 233Business Class: 14First-Class - 0Total: 247 Financial Year 17/18Economy Class - 845Business Class - 68First-Class - 0Total: 913

Trade Agreements

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether professional services companies will continue to have a legal basis for trading with (a) third countries and (b) trading blocs that the EU currently has services agreements with excluding potential (i) tariff changes and (ii) non-tariff barriers in the event that the UK leaves the EU (A) with and (B) without a deal.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Government is committed to working with third countries to provide continuity across our existing trade agreements to deliver certainty for businesses in all scenarios, including professional services companies. Some of these agreements contain services chapters. We will inform Parliament and the public when agreements have been signed and will post details of completed agreements on gov.uk.The EU has agreed to notify third countries that, during the implementation period, the UK is to be treated as an EU member state for the purposes of international agreements, including trade agreements. This provides a basis for continuity during this period.Should arrangements to maintain particular preferences in a no deal scenario not be in place on exit day, trade would then take place on a ‘Most-Favoured Nation’ (MFN) basis, which is sometimes referred to as ‘World Trade Organization (WTO) Terms’, until a new arrangement has been implemented.For services, the MFN principle means WTO members are required to grant treatment to UK services and service suppliers, which is no less favourable than to services and service suppliers of any other WTO member

Department for Exiting the European Union: Brexit

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January to Question 205793, Department for Exiting the European Union: Brexit, what his Department’s total expenditure on public information programmes is to date.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The Department For Exiting the EU is tasked with successfully delivering the UK’s exit from the European Union. A key element of this is providing the public with information on all possible scenarios, including leaving the EU without a deal. The paid-for element of the Government’s ‘Prepare for EU Exit’ public information campaign, including advertising, is being led by the Cabinet Office.

Borders: Northern Ireland

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps are being taken to avoid a hard border in Ireland in the event that the Prime Minister's withdrawal agreement is rejected by Parliament.

Mr Robin Walker: The best way to guarantee no hard border remains delivering a deal with the EU. Both the UK and Ireland have said they will do everything in our power to avoid a hard border in any scenario. But, given that we haven’t yet agreed a deal, the Government’s continued duty is to prepare for every eventuality, including a no deal scenario.The UK Government is clear that, in the event of no deal, we will do everything in our power to prevent a return to a hard border. In such a scenario, we must continue to respect our unique relationship with Ireland, with whom we share a land border and who are co-signatories of the Belfast Agreement. The UK Government is also firmly committed to maintaining the Common Travel Area (CTA) and to protecting the rights enjoyed by UK and Irish nationals when in each other’s state, regardless of the terms of our withdrawal from the EU.The Government has published a technical notice on travelling within the CTA, which can be found on gov.uk.

Department for International Trade

Overseas Trade

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what role the devolved Administrations will have in developing the UK’s trade policy after the UK leaves the EU.

George Hollingbery: The UK Government is committed to working closely with the Devolved Administrations to deliver a future trade policy that works for the whole of the UK. The Government recently committed to a new Ministerial Forum on International Trade with the Devolved Administrations which will provide a formal mechanism for Devolved Government Ministers to discuss and provide input to future trade negotiations. My Department continues to work with the Devolved Administrations on their role in future trade arrangements and is supporting this work with a programme of ongoing engagement at both Ministerial and official level.

Trade Agreements: Environment Protection

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans he has to promote high environmental standards with the UK's trading partners in (a) current and (b) future trade negotiations.

George Hollingbery: The UK has long supported the promotion of our values globally and this will continue as we leave the EU.When we leave the European Union, we will maintain our current standards. We will keep our existing UK legislation, and the EU Withdrawal Act will convert EU law into UK law as it applies at the moment of exit. This includes the regulatory regime for food safety, animal welfare, and regulatory product requirements for industrial goods.We’re clear that more trade doesn’t have to come at the expense of the environment. We are exploring all options in the design of future bilateral trade and investment agreements, including possible environmental provisions within these taking into account results of the DIT consultation exercise.

Trade Agreements

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what trade agreements he expects the UK to have agreed and will be in force on 29 March 2019.

George Hollingbery: As a matter of priority, the Government is working to ensure there is no disruption to the UK’s global trading relationships. Discussions with partner countries have demonstrated a commitment to finding a pragmatic way to ensure continuity of our existing international agreements. Alongside the Withdrawal Agreement, the EU agreed to notify its treaty partners that the UK be treated as a Member State for the purposes of EU international agreements during the Implementation Period (IP). This includes trade agreements. The Government continues to prepare for all eventualities, including a ‘no deal’ Brexit scenario, in the event of which we will seek to bring into force bilateral agreements from exit day (29 March 2019) or as soon as possible thereafter. We are making good progress and have signed continuity agreements with Chile, the Faroe Islands and Eastern and Southern African Economic Partnership Agreement states, as well as Mutual Recognition Agreements with Australia and New Zealand. Other agreements are soon to follow. When we reach agreement with other countries will depend on the progress of ongoing discussions, taking into account a range of factors. The Government will continue to inform Parliament and the public when agreements are signed and will be making an announcement soon.

Department for International Trade: Internet

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the Local to Global podcast (a) since its launch and (b) in the next (i) six, (ii) 12, (iii) 18 and (iv) 24 months.

Graham Stuart: The Local to Global podcast is an Exporting is GREAT campaign initiative. The total production and promotion cost of the Local to Global podcast series is approximately £107,000. No further spend on this podcast series is currently planned.

Import Duties

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the economic effect on consumers of the UK removing all trade tariffs after the UK leaves the EU.

George Hollingbery: The UK will be able to decide its own tariff policy following withdrawal from the EU. We are examining a range of options for our future tariff regime and we will consider carefully the evidence available to us before making a final decision in the interests of UK businesses and consumers. Any impacts on consumer prices will depend on factors not limited to tariffs, for example non-tariff barriers, exchange rate fluctuations, our future economic partnership with the EU and our relationship with partners around the rest of the world.

Trade Agreements: Japan

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he had with Prime Minister Abe during his recent visit to the UK on  the potential for a comprehensive trade deal with Japan in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

George Hollingbery: On Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s recent visit to the UK, our two Prime Ministers agreed to use the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement “as the basis for the future economic partnership” between our two countries. The UK and Japan agreed to make this partnership “more ambitious and enhanced” in areas of shared interests.

Trade Missions: Africa

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what international trade missions to Africa his Department has planned for the next 12 months.

George Hollingbery: We are currently finalising our plans for the next financial year, including working with regions across the UK, other Government Departments, such as DFID, and partners in the private sector to deliver an ambitious programme to support delivery of the aspirations and step-change in our relationship with Africa the Prime Minister set out during her visit 2018. Initial plans already include a range of missions across Africa, focussing on priority sectors from Healthcare and Rail Infrastructure to Agri-tech, and Legal Services.

Department for International Trade: Trade Associations

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which his Department has responsibility are currently undertaken by trade associations; and if he will make a statement.

George Hollingbery: The Department for International Trade has no regulatory functions imposed by legislation which are currently undertaken by trade associations.

Department for International Trade: Brexit

Mr David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress he has made in laying statutory instruments related to EU exit preparedness; and if he will make a statement.

George Hollingbery: As of 30 January, my department has laid four exit related statutory instruments. All exit related statutory instruments are published on legislation.gov.uk and include ‘EU Exit’ in their title.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband: Advertising

Ross Thomson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for Digital and the Creative Industries of 15 November 2018, Official Report column 545, whether it is his policy that the use of the term fibre in the advertising of part-copper broadband represents misleading advertising.

Ross Thomson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for Digital and the Creative Industries of 15 November 2018, Official Report column 545, what steps he is taking to tackle the misleading advertising of fibre broadband.

Ross Thomson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for Digital and the Creative Industries of Thursday 15 November 2018, Official Report column 545, whether he plans to include proposals to tackle the misleading advertising of fibre broadband in his forthcoming Statement of Strategic Priorities to Ofcom.

Margot James: The 2017 Digital Strategy set out that Government would work with regulators and industry to ensure that the advertising of broadband reflects the speeds that consumers can expect to receive and accurately describes the technology used. Since the Digital Strategy was published, the ASA has implemented new guidance, which states that speed claims should be based on the download speeds available to at least 50% of customers at peak time, and no longer on 'up to' speeds available to at least 10% of customers. Ofcom has also updated its Code of Practice on Broadband Speeds. The ASA also reviewed the use of the term ‘fibre’ to describe part-fibre and full-fibre broadband and concluded in November 2017 that the term 'fibre' is unlikely to mislead consumers as currently used in the advertising of part-fibre broadband services. In June 2018, the Administrative Court granted CityFibre permission to proceed with its Judicial Review (JR) of the ASA's decision. The next stage is for the Administrative Court to make a substantive decision on the JR. The Government remains committed to working with regulators and industry to ensure that consumers receive clear, concise and accurate information in order to make informed choices about their broadband, particularly as the rollout of new technologies like full fibre broadband increases. As part of this, we will monitor developments in other countries, including Italy’s current trial of a traffic light system for broadband advertising. The Government will be consulting on its Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications, spectrum and post shortly.

Sports: Racial Discrimination

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to tackle racism in sport.

Mims Davies: There is absolutely no place for racism in sport or anywhere in society. Sport clubs and fans must continue to embrace diversity and tackle racism whenever they encounter it. As I announced in the House on 4 February 2019, I will be bringing together football authorities and other organisations with an interest in the coming weeks, to agree what action must be taken to stamp out all forms of discrimination at sports events. Sport is a devolved issue but the cross-government sport strategy ‘Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation’ seeks to ensure that access to sport is equal for all. Government is supportive of anti-racism initiatives from grassroots to elite sport, including Show Racism the Red Card and Kick It Out. Grassroots sport also receives support in tackling racism from our national sport council, Sport England, who provide free support and learning through its "Club Matters" programme.

Fast Food: Advertising

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the volume of advertising of fast food companies on television after school hours.

Margot James: We know that despite current advertising restrictions for products high in fat salt or sugar (HFSS) on TV around children’s programming, children’s viewing time peaks between 6-9pm and half of their viewing takes place during adult commercial programming where restrictions on HFSS advertising are weaker. That is why, in the second chapter of the Government's Childhood Obesity Plan, we committed to consult on introducing a 9pm watershed on TV advertising of HFSS products and similar protection for children viewing adverts online - with the aim of reducing children’s exposure to HFSS advertising, and incentivising sugar and calorie reduction. We will be launching the consultation at the earliest opportunity.

Musicians: Immigration

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions has he had with music promoters on the ability to bring musicians from (a) EU and (b) other countries to the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

Margot James: While the government is clear that free movement will end when we leave the UK, we are aware that continued access to international talent to work and tour in the UK is a key concern for the music industry. As part of our wider preparations for EU Exit, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is working closely with the music industry to understand potential impacts and opportunities of EU Exit for the sector. The Department will continue to build on this engagement. The government takes into account the needs of the whole of the UK, including the music industry, when setting migration policy. The new system will be rolled out once we have left the EU and after the implementation period ends in 2021.

Local Government: Flags

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to encourage local government bodies to commemorate annual county days and display their county flag.

Michael Ellis: The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport encourages government departments and other institutions to fly the Union Flag on the designated days. Flag flying is deregulated and as such no guidance is issued to local government bodies to display county flags to commemorate annual county days.However, as flag flying is deregulated local government bodies can fly any other flag including county flags on county days without requiring guidance or encouragement from DCMS.

War Memorials: Vandalism

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to ensure war memorials are protected from public vandalism.

Michael Ellis: Powers which may be used to tackle vandalism include the offence of criminal damage which carries a maximum sentence of up to ten years imprisonment and a Civil Injunction which can be imposed by the courts to place prohibitions or requirements on perpetrators of Anti social behaviour, which can include requiring them to stay away from a particular place or require them to repair damage to someone else’s property. For adults, breach is punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.The Government provides support for the repair of memorials through the Memorial Grant Scheme which makes grants towards the VAT incurred by charities and faith groups in the construction, repair and maintenance of public memorial structures, including war memorials. The scheme has a fixed budget of £0.5m per year for spending period.To mark the centenary of the First World War, Government funded a four-year programme. One strand of this work was to ensure war memorials across the country are protected and the people they commemorate, remembered. The aim was to add 2,500 war memorials to the National Heritage List for England. The project finished at the end of September 2018, having added or amended a total of 2,645 war memorials to the list.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Trade Associations

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which his Department has responsibility are currently undertaken by trade associations; and if he will make a statement.

Margot James: The information requested is not held centrally, and to obtain it would incur a disproportionate cost.

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Office: Trade Associations

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which her Department has responsibility are currently undertaken by trade associations; and if she will make a statement.

John Penrose: There are no regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which the Northern Ireland Office has a responsibility that are currently undertaken by trade associations.

Prime Minister

Parliamentary Private Secretaries

Patrick Grady: To ask the Prime Minister, if she will publish a list of hon. Members appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretaries to (a) Government Departments, (b) Ministers and (c) Secretaries of State.

Mrs Theresa May: A list was previously published in September 2018. We will publish an updated list, routinely in due course.